Bio:Harris Levey

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Harris Levey (aka: Lee Harris, Leland Harris, August 13, 1921 – August 18, 1984)was a comic book illustrator and creator for DC Comics from 1941 to 1948 and was the original creator of DC's Air Wave illustrations.

Teenage Years As a teenager, Harris studied at DeWitt Clinton High School in The Bronx. During his time at Dewitt High, Harris contributed his illustrations to the pages of the school's Clinton News and to its other publication, "Magpie". It is interesting to note that Stanley Martin Lieber (aka "Stan Lee" "Marvel Comics") also was a "DeWitt School Alumni" during this same period of time(Harris graduated from DeWitt in 1940, and Stan Lee graduated in 1939). [edit] DC comic book illustrator

Harris changed his name legally from "Harris Levey" to "Leland Harris" in his late teens following high school. After graduating from DeWitt, Harris had worked briefly as an assistant to world renown theatrical magician, "Dante", then in 1941 moved on to work as a comic book artist and creator for DC Comics (1941-1943, 1945-1948). He was the original artist and creator of Air Wave, and also illustrated "Lando, Man of Magic". and "Tarantula"(April 1941) --who could shoot web-like substance from a special gun allowing him to capture villains and to swing from building to building. In addition, suction cups on his gloves and boots allowed Tarantula to scale up the sides of tall buildings). During his time at DC Comics, Harris also served as an illustrator, colorist,and penciller for several issues of Superman and Batman (BatmanDC#60). Harris most often signed his DC Comic book illustrations as "Lee Harris" and sometimes simply as "Harris". [edit] War years (WWII)

In 1943, Harris left DC comics to serve in World War Two (WWII). Assigned as a "Photo-Tech" for for the Air Force's 15th Tactical Squad, Harris was trained in photography and served as an aerial and ground photographer throughout Europe (ie. Normandy). Also during this same period of time, "Krazy Kraut," one of Harris' own comic character creations, was circulated amongst the troops for a brief period. [edit] Post war years: painting

In addition to his return to work as an illustrator for DC Comics (1945-1948), following his departure from the US Army, Harris studied painting under the mentorship of well-known artist/painter, Henry Hensche, at the Art Students League of New York and the Cape Cod School of Art in Provincetown, Massachusetts. [edit] Work in the advertising field

Within a few years (circa 1948), Harris left the comic book world and moved into the advertising world. In 1954, just prior to his marriage to Elinor Seidl (1955), Harris changed his name legally from "Leland Harris", back to his original given name of "Harris Levey". In 1956 and 1963, Harris and his wife had two sons (Jonathan and Theodore). By the early 1960's, while living in Stuyvesant Town, Harris took a job with the New York Journal American newspaper. It was there, and subsequently at The New York Times, that he honed his skills in commercial illustration, layout, design, and advertising copy. During this same period of time, Harris took on Freelance assignments, creating illustrations for the covers of several paperback books.

Harris left the New York Times for to serve as Art Director, and in later years, Creative Art Director for several major advertising agencies based in New York City (ie. Fuller-Smith & Ross, LM Frolich, Foote Cone & Belding, Ted Bates, NW Ayer). It was during his time at these agencies, that Harris had the opportunity to work on several major accounts and campaigns, among them were: '67-69: NY State Lottery, Mobile Tires,'69-70 Johnson & Johnson/Ethicon Sutures, '70-73 Clairol Beauty and Hair, Softique Bath Oil,Severin Coffee,'73-75 Kool, Bufferin Blue Bonnet Margerine, '76-80 AT&T, Nestle Souptime Sunrise Instant Coffee, Swakara Furs, Ralston Roverrolli dog biscuits, Edison Electric,The US Army, '80-83 WRC-98 AM News Talk Radio, Marquee HBO, and various real estate builder's ads.

Awards: Cleo '77 (Swakara Frus), Andy '77 (Swakara Furs), '78 NJ Ad Club (AT & T Business), Andy '78 (US Army), Andy '80 Tysons Toyota TV Campaign. [edit] Education

In the late 1970s, while continuing his work in the field of advertising, Harris completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Communications (evening studies) through Empire State College in New York. At the time, the college had just embarked on a brand new program, one that offered credits towards the earning of one's diploma, in recognition of relevant life experience. [edit] Print advertising and tv commercials

In the early 1980's, Harris worked on print ads and a string of television commercials in the role of Creative Art Director for the Bomstein Agency—a Washington, DC (Georgetown) based advertising firm. [edit] Final years

While continuing his work at the Bomstein/Gura Agency, during weekends and evenings, Harris continued his lifelong passion to paint Still Lifes and Portraits with oils—moving further towards developing his style of hyperrealism.

During this last decade, Harris and his wife spent long weekends at their cabin located in the "Ticonderoga"/Crown Point, New York region of the Adirondack mountains. During one such weekend, following a hike on Mount Jo, Harris suffered a severe heart attack. He was taken to nearby Lake Placid Memorial Hospital in New York, where he succumbed to heart failure, at age 63.

For full Bio and links to related artwork, see Wikipedia Bio of Harris Levey at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harris_Levey