WEST AUSTIN NEWS
4
WESTSIDE
STORIES
Karen Kay (Missy) Owens Harris BY FO R R E S T P R E E C E
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fter a recent lunch, where she showed me samples of her work, I realized that Missy Harris has been The Illustrator of West Austin. For decades, her stylish drawings have graced magazines and advertisements, and promoted society events. She’s thoroughly West Austin and she loves talking about attending private 1st and 2nd grades at Miss Huberich’s School for Young Ladies in Tarrytown; Wooldridge Elementary; O. Henry: and then Austin High and the University of Texas, where she was a Tri-Delt. Her grandfather was Edmond Rather, the general manager of The University CoOp for 50 years and her father was Wroe Owens, a prominent attorney who had a career with the FBI and involvement in the entertainment business in Los Angeles. Wroe was also an entre-
preneur who had a knack for connecting with others with innovative ideas. On that note, he was driving an electric car along Pecos in the 1960s and 70s. Missy’s childhood memories: living on Oakmont before moving to Hartford Road, the Chicken Shack and Lung’s Chinese Kitchen. El Matamoros, Matt’s El Rancho, and Piccadilly Cafeteria downtown, Victor’s for a romantic dinner, and Maroon Mill and The Holiday House for burgers. Cherry Cokes and Persian Melon nail polish at Tarrytown Pharmacy and gifts from Bauman’s, wrapped in pale
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ILLUSTRATION BY MISSY HARRIS
October 26, 2023 Volume 36 Issue 10
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blue paper. Along the way, she met Steve Harris, her husband for 59 years now. Missy always had a knack for illustration, and she was influenced by her mother’s drawing “pretty faces” and inspired by paper doll books. She remembers childhood summertime art lessons from Sally Archibald, with classmates Sylvia Irwin Betts (Mrs. Charles Betts) and Barbara Roberts. “I loved getting movie magazines and the fashions I saw by Edith Head, Jean Louis, and others.” Her favorite gifts were legal pads from the Co-Op and pencils. “I would turn the pad sideways and the margin rule would be my ‘stage’ for drawing ballerinas and fashion models.” There was no doubt about her choosing the University of Texas, due to all of her family members who attended it and her grandfather’s managing the Co-Op. “Everyone knew I could draw and decided I would major in art.” Missy says that there was no fashion illustration major back then. But she was thrilled when a guest artist came to a class and showed how to draw taffeta and furs. Professor Ralph White allowed Missy to draw imaginary magazine and newspaper ads which were juried for a grade. She was told time and time
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again that she probably wouldn’t get to use her art, because it was not serious.
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TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
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Salado, The Kitchen Door, and Marcia Brown’s Best in the World Shop. As the owner of and illustrator for R.S.V.P. Parties and MISSY’S PROFESSIONAL Particulars/Weddings for over CAREER 30 years, Missy has coordinated Upon graduation, Missy and consulted for 200+ wedstarted her first job, illustratdings/related events including ing for Scarbrough’s in Austin. “destination weddings” at West When her husband decided to Point, San Miguel de Allende, attend law school in San AntoArkansas, Disneyworld, and the nio, she decided to apply for a Cayman Islands. job with Joske’s. When the art Her personal illustrator director was late for her interprojects include graduation view, Missy portraits, went down rehearsal the street to dinner Frost Bros. invitations, and was envelope immediately linings, and hired. sorority and Working fraternity for Frost houses. She Bros. was a has drawn dream. The an entire seven staff college basartists were ketball team given their and a high own models, school baseand fashions /! ball team, were sent to - 0 with water& the artists colors of by the departindividual playment heads, three or four days ers; architectural renderings and before deadlines. It was a festive home “portraits”; hand-painted working atmosphere, with fancy bridesmaid dresses, chair covers, birthday lunches and meetings designs for tote bags, needle with top fashion designers. point stockings, Mahjongg chair After Steve graduated from covers, Christmas cards, and law school, they moved back to animal portraits. Austin. At that point, fashions Missy also designed for were sent to Missy by GreyHouse of Hatten — primarily hound Bus, and she returned baby quilts, Christmas linens, them and the illustrations the and Christmas ornaments. same way. This process went on In the nonprofit realm, for around ten years. But evenshe has done illustrations for tually, photography replaced the Admirals Club of Austin, hand-drawn illustrations. Missy invitations for the Women’s started branching out into beSymphony League, Natural coming a professional volunteer Science Guild Helping Hand, for many of Austin’s high-profile Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Austin nonprofit organizations, while Woman’s Club, and “Pink” for continuing her career in comKomen, other Special Event mercial art. Planners and Consultants, and When I said that Missy is gala invitations for March of The Illustrator of West Austin, Dimes, and the Seton Gala. I wasn’t joking. She started Three Christmas Affair(s) working on her legacy decades have used her artwork, and she ago and she is still going strong. has illustrated for the Oakwood Many years, she had booths Cemetery Book and the first at Laguna Gloria Fiesta. She Heritage Cookbook for the Heridid children’s custom room tage Society of Austin. décor, hand-painted trunks and One recent fun project was children’s furniture-headboards. with Lance Avery Morgan to do As a freelancer, she worked for cover art and illustrations of recGoodfriend’s, Bo Peep, Ivey ollections of Grace Jones Fashion Wade, Expecting the Best, J. Evening in the 1960s, at which Winn-Powell, Franklin Simon/ she was present, and a return to NY, Philadelphia, Grace Jones of “fashion illustration of the past.”
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OCTOBER 26, 2023
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She has drawn sketches of Willie Nelson for the Brackenridge Gala; Darrell Royal; Coach Frank Broyles, for a private party; and of Bobby Bones for a Helping Hand Champions Luncheon. For 32 years, Missy has been working for the Texas Senate Publications and Printing as administrative coordinator, under the lead of the director working with the printers, computer artists, etc. Previously, she was the Executive Secretary of the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs and Secretary for the Bachelors of Austin. She currently has some children’s books in progress along with other projects. Of course, she is proud of her two daughters, Stacia Harris Price and Kara Harris Norris, who have continued the West Austin tradition of graduating from Austin High and UT. “Maybe I was dismissed as a sorority girl when I was in school, but I did get to use my art and I continue to do so and enjoy it,” Missy says. “I’m having fun! Why stop now?”
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