March 9th 2012

So I've given a reason for the beginnings of just a few of my works...it will have to be an ongoing job as I have so very many works, of all styles, mediums and eras.  When I look at the body of work I have done, it amazes me indeed.  I had no idea there was so much of it.  One reason for this lack of accounting for the works is that I had some in storage for years and seemed to have just forgotten about them.  Imagine the joy when I found them all safely stored for years.  


Anyway, I'll get on with the 'beginnings'  which are a very important part of being an artist and for my clients to understand how a work came  about.  Every painting I ever sold, I was asked how I thought it up, or what gave me the idea.  So working at home on this blog, I have all the time in the world to remember the"beginnings" and to relate this on to you.


More Later

March 7th 2012

Okay folks...I never said I would write every day.  It is now the 7th of March, 2012 and I have been so busy with matting, framing, painting and writing in my other enterprise.    I wanted to explain a bit about each painting and give a general background on how it came to be.  Sometimes things just work out in a way you never expected....AND they turn out Great!!!  Sometimes they don't.  I find I have so many ideas and so much to pack into a day, they I get overwhelmed and do absolutely NOTHING!!!  That is rare, because I have trained myself to keep my eye on the ball and look for the best possible outcome.   But you never can tell from day to day what may come up.

My mother, an artist also in her day, is now 90 and has Alzheimer's. She is in a memory care facility.  All 5 of us children go and visit her regularly, but it is very sad for me that the mother I did know - is gone completely.  It is the strangest and most ugly disease I have ever known.  We used to talk every single day either by phone or in person and I miss that with all my heart.
How could your essence as a human being just disappear and you have no memory of your marriage, your children, your career, your lovers your very self?????  Actually, when she sees us in person she knows we are her children, but I am pretty sure she thinks she has no children when she is not with us.  She is confused, sure, but most of all what I get from my visits is the loving and warm, beautiful thoughts she relates to me.  I have seen a lot of these kind of patients be very angry all the time, but luckily, my mother has turned to warm soft love...24 hours a day.  It is the best possible outcome from a hideous disease.  At least she is happy and healthy when I see her and that is what counts.  The disease will kill her cruelly one day...it will tell her heart to stop, or to not breathe.  But until that day, we all cherish the fact that we still have her with us.  Her oldest child is 68 years old, and the rest of us are all in out late 50's to mid 60's....so,  for the very fact of her being alive still - well, we are all very fortunate.


Okay, now I am going to explain the beginnings of each work.

Art Continued...

"Butterflies Are NOT Free'  2011 16" X 20"

Acrylic on Canvas

I was remembering Lake Tahoe and all the serenity it offers.   The butterfly appears in many of my works, but this time, huge hands come up out of the lake with butterflies tied to the fingers with string.  Maybe I was dealing with someone in my life with control issues  Ha ha  No need to explain

"The Charge"  2012  10" X 12"

Acrylic on Paper


I love elephants.  But never realistic ones.
This one I love because of the simple lines and stark b/w..

'Tulips Through a Rainy Window'

11.5" X 9"    2008

Acrylic on Canvas

This is a true diversion from my sometimes rather compulsive desire to outline or highlight things.  I love the softness of it and the lighting enhances its blur quality.

'The Yellow Vase'

13" X 16"

Mixed Media/Collage on Paper

Pure fun!  I found a bunch of flower petals and just created a fantastical bouquet.  Originally the centers were Mentos!  Now they are glass and the whole thing fairly jumps out at you.  Should be framed in a shadow box!

'Welcome Back'

16.5" X 11.5"

Acrylic/Collage on Paper

Just a fun painting involving underwater cities and evil scuba divers, waiting for his lady to return from a cruise.  Nonsense
yet again.

'Invisible Owl'   8" X 10"  Acrylic/collage on
Canvas Board  2012  Speaks for itself.

This is titled "Sunday Bouquet"  SOLD  16" X 20"  Acrylic on Canvas 2012

'Parade of the Butterflies'

16" X 20"

Acrylic on Canvas

When I moved into a beautiful building devoted to artists, in 2010, this was the very first painting I did to celebrate a new phase in my life.  Butterflies always celebrate new life, and believe me the changes to happen (for good) were unreal.

'Smelly Feet #2'

12" X 18"

Acrylic on Paper

Shoes are fun to paint, and when you add bizarre items or creatures, like crying lions, a whole new element is introduced.  Remember, taking yourself or your works too seriously leads to no humor/fun in your works and your life.  So I try to follow my innate silliness gene when possible.

'Airport Violation'

14' X 16.5"

Acrylic on Paper

I like the vaguely threatening figure approaching in the background, while the guy seems right at home - billowing smoke & reading, waiting for his flight.  Airport travel is exceedingly hideous any way you look at it and I'm just poking fun here.  All of us would like to do this I know.

'Jungle Diva'

12" X 18"

Acrylic on Paper

Having been a model in SF, NY etc I was aiming to get across the weirdness of that former life - the odd poses and places and outfits you are forced to wear for a shoot.  Hopefully this comes across in this bizarre exaggerated pose and background.  I've seen much worse!!

'The DT's"

9' X 12'

Acrylic/mixed media/collage on canvas board

Whimsical hand with shaky background.  Hand is covered in glued on jewels and paper.  I just love the freedom and fun attributed to the horrid result of binge drinking or severe alcoholism, of which I know a fair bit about.


















"Fairyland Unicorn"  16" X 11.5"  Acrylic on Paper  201l.  I had a 'time out' period of my life in 2010 - 2011...I did not paint for a year and 6 months.  This was the first painting I did when it started work again... the result of the profound peace I felt by dropping out and gathering all my far flung selves into one whole person again.

More Art

'The 4th Grader'  2011  20" X 15"

Acrylic on Paper

(Framed/matted)

                                                           

" Ain't I Just Ducky?"  2005  18" X 8"

Mixed Media on Ceramic Garden Swan

"Apple Pickin' Time"   2011  20" X 14"

Acrylic on Foam Board

(Matted)

This is a collage/acrylic creation...I adore big birds in flight, and old wood houses always seem to be near apple orchards in the country.  It is a composite of my childhood memories on the farms we lived on.

"Mr. Universe"  16" X 20"

Acrylic on Canvas

Well, this frog just screams " I'm so special!".  And he is indeed.  Attitude is everything and I feel he comes across as a very bossy and temperamental frog.

Sold 

"Jungle Diva # 1"  2011  14" X 17"

Acrylic on Paper

(Matted)

The feeling of this painting is high fashion in the middle of nowhere...so really, what is the point of being drop dead diva gorgeous in the jungle???   My subject seems to feel at home with all the vines and primitiveness a jungle invokes.  She is indeed at home, plus she has a partner to be revealed later....#2.  So they are not alone and very stylish too boot.

" Smelly Feet"  2012  21" X 15"

Acrylic on Paper

(Matted)

Well this is self-explanatory.  Also one of two shoe paintings.  I loved the contrast between putting something absolutely good smelling into a pair of incredible boots.  It's just the silliness of it all that seems to work for me.  Remember, no reality please!!!

" The Eye Catcher"  2011  12" X 18"

Acrylic on Paper

Sold

In my studio painting...

Recently sold paintings

 Some recent responses from my clients:

February 21st 2012

"OH MY! I got the painting today and just took it out of the packaging! I LOVE it...I can't stop staring at it!  I think I'm going to take it to get framed tomorrow! oh my gosh I just have chills about it...I love their eyes and I love the sparkle...now I have to decide if I should put glass over it or not...I think I just want to always be able to feel like I can touch it if I need to....even though I will likely not touch it because I don't want it to be damaged but you know what I mean I think...I just absolutely love it!"

-Sarah Bell - upon receiving "Rollerskating in Iran." 

Rollerskating in Iran

SOLD FEB 2012

My daughter Phoebe Bought this one!


This is 'Beelzebub's Daughter'


16" X 20"

Acrylic on Canvas

She loves the incongruity of it all I guess.  No accounting for taste as they say, but I too love her attitude.
SOLD FEB 2012

“The Dancers is so beautiful. It features 
a flying chicken, 

which always makes for good conversation! 
Anyone who visits always 
comments on this one, the sunset 
is really spectacular.” 
SOLD 2010

“This painting always makes me laugh. 
Entitled: 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” 
It’s two surly Roosters 

getting into a heated discussion. 
I love the bright 

colours and its energy.” 

SOLD 2010

'Eye See You'  

2011 "16 X 20"

Acrylic on Canvas  SOLD March 2012

“The Water Bearers was a wedding 
gift from my mum. 

It has a beautiful message on the back 
wishing me and my 

husband well for our future together. 
It sits at the entrance 

to our kitchen, we love it. It’s one of 
my favourites.” 

Day one...2nd February 2012

 HOLLY ENGLISH'S ART BLOG  

This is me on a recent trip to Australia vising my daughter.

This blog is about my art with bits of an interesting life intermixed.  I have lived all over the world and my art reflects this.  I started out in the early 80's painting the cities I've seen or lived in.  I was living in Sydney at the time.  In fact, I married, had my daughter, started a business - plus did my art,  all in Australia....living there for some  32 years.

My daughter still lives there and is married to a wonderful man...they only love to cruise.  I moved back to Reno, in 1995, being that all my family (4 siblings) had never left, so I fit right in again.  It is wonderful for me to be able to have each and every day to do my art.  It wasn't easy to arrange my life this way, but it was worth all the effort.  I now live inn a building that has nothing but artists living in it.  It is wonderful to have all these creative people around me full time, all doing exactly what they are interested in developing -  art, music, dance, writing, sculpture...etc.  Very few people in this world get to follow their dreams, and I am so blessed to be among them.

As this blog continues I will be showing my works, telling tales and generally writing about it.