Commentary by Ron C. Moss
Haiga Showcase: Dan Hardison
Dan Hardison’s work has a consistency that I have come to appreciate very much. His handmade renderings, always filled with nature-based imagery, are refreshing—with so much photo-based haiga being created, I applaud those who will pick up a brush or pencil and create art in a tactile environment.
“innocent face” is just lovely. The frame around Dan’s skillfully produced drawing provides a feeling of space, and having the haiku in its own boxed frame creates a dimensional quality. All of the elements balance nicely.
With “sisters pose” we have three delightful tulips and a haiku whose lines are spaced evenly and match the placement of the tulips. This is a haiga that emits peace and a meditative quality that I welcome and admire.
“mother’s vase” offers a poignant senryu with which we can all identify: how our dear mothers hold everything together. As with all of Dan’s work, the line work in the drawing is sure and steady, displaying great concentration, and the muted pastel colours work well with the subject.
“waiting for the light” is more of what we have come to expect from Dan: his excellent use of color, a light touch in both art and haiku, and nicely balanced layers that come together for us to quietly appreciate and enjoy.
To see an earlier Showcase of Dan’s work, click here.
About the Artist
A native of Tennessee, Dan Hardison now lives in coastal North Carolina. “While I have worked with art and photography for the past 40 years,” he says, “my journey writing short-form poetry began in 2009. As a visual artist, haiga was an immediate interest where I could combine images with words.” His work can be found at his website, Windscape Studio, and his blog, Some Tomorrow’s Morning.