About Holly
Influenced by her Aunt Mary, Holly's passion for the arts increased throughout her early years. Later having received a BFA from Eastern Michigan University, she dove into the high-tech design world of the television industry.
"I was working in the Detroit and DC metropolitan areas as a graphic designer in cold, dark rooms surrounded by computer screens, and I started to really miss being out in nature observing the real world, and honestly I just missed the smell of paint! I missed the creative expression of painting on canvas."
Holly has received many accolades from her admirers, such as "Love the colors and movement", "Vibrant", "Full of joy and life."
Her painting “Autumn on the Potomac” won “Best in Show" 26th Annual Members Show, Friends of the Yellow Barn Studio. The show features Walt Bartman's interview with Harry Cooper, Head Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art at National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. [interview link here https://bit.ly/3poJvOF]
Holly's painting-inspired travels have taken her to Santorini, Greece and Italy’s Amalfi Coast, where she joined plein air workshops sponsored by the Yellow Barn Studio. She constantly finds interesting places to paint around the DMV, and is always intent on finding that spark of beauty and atmosphere that awaits. Holly currently is on staff, teaching at the Yellow Barn Studio, Glen Echo MD. https://walterbartman.com/yellow-barn-studio/
SELECT SHOWS, AWARDS
Paint Annapolis 2023
Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association Award - Public Artist
Art on the Avenue Award - First Place
"Sailing Eastport"
Rockville Art League 2023
Essence of Summer - Award Third Prize
(juror Therese Capal)
"Potomac Haven"
Paint the Town Labor Day Show 2022
Kensington Historic Armory, Md.
“Professor” Honorable Mention (juror Lenny Campello)
September 2022
Glenview Mansion Art Gallery
Rockville Art League Juried Members’ Sunflower Show
“At Rest” Honorable Mention (juror Steve Loya)
July 2022
BWI Airport/Glen Echo Park Faculty Show
https://www.bwiairport.com/at-bwi/places-to-go/art-exhibits
July 2022
"Paint It" Ellicott City, Howard County Arts Council, MD
“Rooftops” Honorable Mention (juror Ron Donoughe)
June 2022
27th Annual Friends of the Yellow Barn Studio Members Show
“Sunflower Time” Honorable Mention (juror David Sharpe)
December 2021
Wren’s Nest
Collaborative Space
group exhibition June 2021
Friends of the Yellow Barn Studio Presents The 26th Annual Members Show
Best in Show “Autumn on the Potomac” (juror Harry Cooper, Head Curator of Modern
& Contemporary Art, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC)
December 2020