Keith Harder was born in 1955 in Saskatchewan and grew up in Three Hills, Alberta. He was first introduced to acrylic and oil painting in the high school art program taught by his father. From then, painting became the central feature of his education through two undergraduate degrees, and in 1989, a Master of Visual Arts from the University of Alberta. Upon graduation, Harder began a 36 year career as Professor of Studio Art at the Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta.

 

During his undergraduate degree at the University of Calgary, Harder was mentored by the realist painter John Hall. The formal side of his painting practice was influenced later by abstract painters, Doug Haynes and Phil Darrah at the University of Alberta. Eventually he was inspired by Canadian artist Jack Chambers to investigate the numinous quality of the external visual experience and, similarly, chose a descriptive approach as a painting methodology for his investigations.

 

In the early years of his practice, a faithfulness to observation dominated his approach. By paying close attention to describing appearances he hoped to reveal moments of import. Initially photographic sources were used but later direct observation was included in certain projects. The descriptive methodology was applied to a variety of subjects and genres, including landscape, still life, and portraiture.

 

Now retired from teaching, Harder can focus on his studio practice. Rooted in painting, this practice has diversified over the years into drawing, digital imaging, sculpture, and land art installation. In all cases the form taken by these art works has been decided pragmatically, driven by some need for expression.