Harriet Christakos

Harriet spent her childhood in New York State and, while she always painted, she was also interested in music.  She majored in music at Wells College, New York, but still kept up with art as a minor.

Harriet made pottery for 20 years at her studio and shop in Cazenovia, New York.  She mostly made utilitarian pottery, as she says, "I wanted them to be beautiful but have a use."  Still keeping with her music interest, she played in a country band, playing a Fender bass guitar, and also taught piano for 25 years.

In 1978 Harriet went back to college and received her RN nursing degree.  She then worked for a hospital in Syracuse, New York.  She still found time to take art workshops with the nationally known painters Tony Couch and Frank Webb.

Eighteen years ago Harriet and her husband Nick began coming to Boca Grande.  Since moving here she has more time for her artwork.  She has a studio on the first floor of her home where she does both oil and watercolor.

Harriet is now an exhibiting member with the Boca Grande Art Alliance.  She shows her lovely oil paintings and her fun paintings, art and verses painted on barrel staves.  "They are hard to find now since people began buying old wine barrels for planters," states the artist.  "But I can still get a few from Canada."