HARRIS, Joan 1946-

PERSONAL:

Born August 30, 1946, in Pueblo, CO; daughter of Walter (an engineer) and Martha (a social worker) Tooke; married Tom Harris (an army career officer), 1967; children: Roe, Olen. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: University of Southern Colorado, B.A., 1968; University of Alaska—Anchorage, M.A., 1997.

ADDRESSES:

Agent—c/o Author Mail, Alaska Northwest Books, P.O. Box 10306, Portland, OR 97296-0306. E-mail—kjharris@gci.net.

CAREER:

Army Education Center, Fort Richardson, AK, worked as education services specialist and counselor for sixteen years; freelance illustrator, 1967—.

MEMBER:

Guild of Scientific Illustrators, Alaska Press Women, Bird Treatment and Learning Center.

AWARDS, HONORS:

First place, Alaskan Press Women Communications Contest, and third place, National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest, both 2003, both for One Wing's Gift.

WRITINGS:

(And illustrator) One Wing's Gift: Rescuing Alaska's Wild Birds, Alaska Northwest Books (Portland, OR), 2002.

WORK IN PROGRESS:

Writing and illustrating a book about the rehabilitation of baby birds, publication by Alaska Northwest Books (Portland, OR) expected in 2005.

SIDELIGHTS:

Joan Harris told CA: "I have been an illustrator for thirty-five years. I attended college on an art scholarship and since graduating have done freelance work—mostly art work focusing on scientific illustration concerned with extreme detail and accuracy. I have worked almost exclusively in graphite and prefer that medium because of its simplicity and because of the detail it allows.

"Since 1990, I have concentrated on drawing a series of birds that were all treated at the Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage, Alaska. What started as a series of drawings eventually became One Wing's Gift: Rescuing Alaska's Wild Birds when I felt myself compelled to write down the stories of the birds, to explain each drawing further, but also to share the fascinating tale behind each bird. The stories were so touching and compelling—and the amount of time and care expended by the caretakers so amazing—that I wanted others to know these heartwarming tales. They are stories of hope and of human beings doing such giving and unselfish things. I believe the world needs such news—and just as important is the need for children (and adult readers also) to be aware of wildlife and to develop respect for all species that share our world.

"I am currently working on another book that will be published in 2005. It will contain stories of thirteen different birds—this time from the entire country, since thirteen different wildlife rehabilitation centers will be included. The whooping crane will represent the International Crane Foundation; the sharp-shinned hawk will represent the Cornell Ornithology Center; the snowy plover comes from the Monterey Bay Aquarium; the very endangered alala represents Hawaii—and several other species round out the book. These will be, in particular, stories of baby birds from each of these centers. I'm currently doing the illustrations. A full portrait of each baby will be included, as well as the head of the adult for each species. It will be a wonderful opportunity to highlight rehabilitation facilities nationwide and share some of the special stories of different birds they have cared for.

"I try to make my illustrations as scientifically accurate as I possibly can. The ones in One Wing's Gift also have color overlays that were done on sheets of Mylar 'painted' with pastel dust. It gave a tint-like quality to the illustrations, which I prefer to photorealism color. I prefer not to use any computer art in the drawings. All are hand-done, some taking hundreds of hours to complete.

"There is educational material included in One Wing's Gift about each species, as there will be with the baby bird rehabilitation book. Hopefully this will be an opportunity for children to learn more about birds and become interested in nature and wildlife and its preservation."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

ONLINE

Epinions.com,http://www.epinions.com/ (November 17, 2002), David Abrams, "Joan Harris' Gift: A Visit with the Author."

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Web Site,http://alaska.fws.gov/ (June 25, 2003), review of One Wing's Gift: Rescuing Alaska's Wild Birds.