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It's been awhile since I posted here spreading myself thin throughout the net universe. Finding time to create and communicate on the net is a tough one to balance.

I was asked by someone about two years ago if I was going to create a Sonoma County Christmas card since I did one for Nappa Valley. Embarrassed to say, I finally had the chance to create one and I'll have it on my stores in the coming week.

I love working in watercolor. It has such a wonderful mind of its own.
I just posted this on Instagram. Look for me there under "holmanart."

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After having a presence on Redbubble for years, it's nice to see they're offering some really wonderful products to showcase artist's creations. I'm particularly thrilled with their tee and A-Line dresses. I'm really enjoying updating the products offered on my page there.

You can find this dress here.

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For this year's Twitter Art Exhibit which will occur in March in NYC, I decided to try something different - something I rarely do, and that's to paint something scenic. I was deeply inspired by a photo a friend who lives in Palm Springs posted to his FB page. Luckily, the size for the art for the exhibit is small - post card size. So, if I really messed it up, I would be able to start over without feeling too depressed about it. :-) I sketched free hand ( which I always do, whether from my mind, or reference ) the scene making minor changes. I marked where I will be cutting it to size in pencil, but I always work before cutting out the exact size I need the art to be. This allows complete coverage of the area and I feel it gives me sort of a psychological freedom to extend a bit beyond the area allowing me to design a better piece. I worked in watercolor and gouache, which I love. And for once, I didn't outline anything in black, which I normally love to do. I'm always willing to paint new things, and experiment with new mediums and styles. I feel it keeps me on my toes. I love the challenge.
If you want more info on the Twitter Art Exhibit and have a Twitter account, click HERE.

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Thought I would give my iPhone time lapse feature a try and realized I could have really used a tri-pod for my iPhone. iPod sounds kind of cool. Anyway, a normally fast sketch for me to do seems to go by in a blink of an eye here. Just a little fashiony face I saw in my head while sitting at the kitchen table with a pen in my hand and a napkin that was hanging out on the table.

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An intersting thing happened recently. I signed up for email from Artist Patience Brewster's website after reading a wonderful article about her and the wonderful Christmas ornaments she creates, and then separately a few weeks later, I hear she is reaching out to bloggers and inviting us to talk about our art in honor of Artist Appreciation Month. When I received that encouragement from her, I realized once again how important it is to blog!

   Now for the fun part, and the part that I think is the most difficult for most artists to do - talk about themselves. Wouldn't we much rather hide behind that curtain of anonymity and keep creating? Of course, but the followers of our work would love to know more.

  Instead or rattling forever and losing you to a sea of words ( because I personally rather see more visuals than words ), I will break out the answers to her questions in separate Blog posts. And I hope you'll come back for more.

  Question #1 - As a child, do you recall a significant moment when you felt truly affected or inspired by any particular artwork or artist?

My ability to draw was apparent at an early age. I have a very strong visual memory and drew a giraffe from my memory in kindergarten. My teacher raved about it, and my mother took it in stride. I think she saw my talent as something fun and and no way a future source of income for me when I grew up ( neither my mother or father were artistic in any way ). No one else in class could draw without copying from something. I sat there whipping out things I saw in my mind. I started to feel more freakish than born with a gift. I was never one to tell anyone I was an "artist." My friends would say it for me. As I became more aware of my surroundings, I would have to say that the world of fashion, not a particular artist or artwork, was my greatest source of inspiration. I think I've been a "Vogue" subscriber since the age of eight. Well, not that young, but I know it feels like forever. I would sit and draw fashiony kinds of figures and loved drawing the outfits ( illustrations below were in my head at the age of 12, no reference material nearby ). And when Twiggy became the rage ( yes, I'm seriously dating myself here and you can see the visible influence of her in my art in the far right figure ), I was in heaven. And Jean Shrimpton. Need I say more? Google these fashion icons. You'll know why I was so obesessed, at least for that time period in fashion.

As I grew into my teen years, I would write stories for my High School English teacher complete with illustrations. He said they were the highlight of his Monday mornings. I can only imagine. Then in my free time in the evenings, I would draw and write comic books about my friends. I would actually draw for hours alone in my room getting out every now and then for more moments of inspiration. My Dad even scored me a huge drafting table to create on when I was about sixteen. It overpowered my bedroom, but what did I care? Drawing was my life. The bigger the table, the better.


Hang in there, I will answer the next question next week!


Now a little about Patience. I read a wonderful article about her in a FB Art Licensing Group I belong to. She is a true visionary, and focuses all her energy in creating a magical Christmas every year with her designs. She is also a brilliant combination of creativity and business. Two things, that no matter what art field you are in today, is sorely needed. The businees part of art is seen as the less desirable part, but a part that is becoming more and more important. Many art colleges are acknowledging this fact and are offering courses for artists to understand and feel more comfortable with this aspect of art.

Have a look at Patience Brewster's beautiful ornaments. They're magical and whimsical, and the culmination of hard work and talent. I hope you love her work as much as I do!

xo Laura

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It's happening again in Moss, Norway. The Twitter Art Exhibit!
My art is on its way as I write this. I worked in watercolors and watercolor pencil on Arches paper. The title of my art is "For the Love of Owls." The two owls I painted are indigenous to Norway.
I was happy to be able to participate again in the exhibit. Sure wish I could be at the event. Maybe one year!

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Greeting Card Universe awarded my Valentine's "Cupid Cats" design of the Day yesterday. This card has many relation specific versions. Check it out at this link.

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I just bought the most wonderful sketchbook from Barnes & Noble. Nice thick perforated pages beckon to me to draw everyday. I love to use black ink on nice, white smooth paper, and I challenge myself to let go of my need for perfectionism without sketching first in pencil before I outline in ink. I just start drawing and wherever the pen takes me I go. If I make a mistake I just let it go and learn to live with it. It's challenging and also very freeing. The paper is white, but my cell phone insists  it's grey.

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I have two sides to my artistic talent- one side is the graphic arts side, and the other is the fine arts side. Each one takes 100% of my time and effort, and both do really well for me. But strangely enough, my fine arts side is winning out because I actually sell my paintings. Still, it's hard for me to let go of the graphic arts side and the link to how I made a living for so many years. Granted, the greeting card biz is a whole different animal from the ad biz, and one that I feel isn't going to make me rich and famous, but I do enjoy creating cards and I try and design cards that I would buy myself. I'm particularly proud of my latest creation which involved many skills in PhotoShop that I was completely unable to do just a few years ago. I'm total proof that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. I think the real key in keeping the brain sparking is to accept change and go with the flow every inch of the way. When you resist change, your mind closes up, and can't be receptive to new things. There are so many new things happening every day in technology. Why not embrace it? Learning new things is truly what will keep you feeling young and current. You may not look the part ( hehe ) but you'll certainly feel it! Check out my new "Sweet 16" card at my Card Gnome store. You can also comment on the card there if you'd like. See you there!

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Thinking about the tragedy in Newtown CT, USA, a vision came to me. While I didn't draw every child and adult, a loving crying angel has taken the innocent victims into her protection forever...

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There's nothing like sending a boxed set of your fine art cards along with your sold art to a buyer.
You can find them on my art FB fan page.

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I have to say I've met some really wonderful artists online. Not only are they supportive of their fellow artists but also very talented. Artist and friend, Martice, has a wonderful new site, and linked artists that inspire her to one of the pages on her site. I'm honored to be one of them. Thank you Martice! Check out her art and beautiful new site-

Martice's link to her inspiring artists.

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The gallery opening night was filled with wonderful family and friends as well as many gallery patrons who had wonderful feedback regarding my work. I even sold a painting on opening night- my beloved "For the Love of Pia" but I'm so happy to say it's going to a good home; to a home of a person who collects art. My painting will be among some famous artists. That certainly made my day!

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I don't know what it is about these wonderful primates that I'm obsessed to paint, but I'm now on my third one. Untitled at the moment, I wanted this one to be a little more dramatic; the eyes more riveting. I think I accomplished a lot in three hours yesterday.

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The wind circles around the Mountain Lion and settles languorously on a couch in a room of sunflowers. She's a breath of fresh air. No one knows for sure how long she'll stay.
Pastels on Canson's Mi-Teintes paper, 19.5" x 25." © Laura J. Holman 2012.

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This Saturday I will be bringing my framed art to the studio to be hung for the Group Show Opening ( Art Gust ) on August 31st at Gallery Godo in Glendale, California. If you live nearby or are in the area that evening, stop by and say hi. There will be a lot of other artwork to see also!

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I think one of the most exciting things about getting ready for the exhibits is having the art framed. The difference is night and day. I had the "Cherry Tree" art hanging around for awhile, and to my surprise, the gallery owner chose it for the exhibit. Seeing it come to life framed was so rewarding. I want to keep it. But as the gallery owner said to me, "Laura, they ( the paintings ) are like children, they eventually have to leave the nest and bring happiness to someone else's life." While I inherently agree with that statement, I will still miss the originals and some of my walls in my home will be empty. But then, they will be in someone else's home making them happy, just like the gallery owner said.
I'm actually considering buying another easel so that I can jump immediately onto another painting when I'm just ending the one I'm painting. Klimt inspired me when I saw a shot of his studio with two easels. Two large canvases graced them. One day I would love to paint something large. I'm looking forward to it.

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I'm thrilled to announce that eight of my paintings are going into a group show in August at a gallery in Glendale, CA. Then they will be on display at the LA Art Walk in September. I will post the flyer and more details soon. In the meantime, the gallery owner has put a fire under me to produce more work that I sorely need to do! So I will be super busy in the weeks to come. I will try and post works in progress and finished pieces! Thanks for all the lovely comments and your support. It's beyond appreciated!

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Having a great time working with my new Schmincke pastels. Expensive, but so worth it! I'm working on a wedding card right now for my Card Gnome store.

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Sometimes letting a painting sit and stare at you unfinished gives you, the artist, the chance to decide how the painting should proceed. Many times I have other paintings in my head while working on the present one. It's a bit distracting, but I'm doing everything in my power not to be too ADD when it comes to creating. I'm hoping to be done with this one before the end of the week.

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It's so easy to get Mom something for Mother's Day, but what about Dad for Father's Day? Another tie? A fishing rod? I choose to usually go the food route and fill my wonderful husband's tummy with a great meal of his favorite things. He can relax by the tv, feet up, as I drop grapes and other goodies into his mouth. Well, it's not exactly something out of the days of the Roman Empire, but you get the picture. Give Dad what he wants, and sometimes it's as simple as a day of rest and relaxation and the wife and kids at the grill for a change.

At Card Gnome where I have a card store, they have a great variety of cards. Hurry, though, because the deadline to send a card is just a day away! And speaking of fishing rods... I couldn't resist creating a fish card for those Dads who are truly gifted in the art of catching fish.

To all the great Dads out there... Happy Father's Day!

My Fishing card on Card Gnome.

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There's something about painting to music that makes a painting seem so poetic. And painting alone with the music in a rarely empty house is a treat. Of course, there's the ringing phone and text messages that I need to answer. Heaven would be an art island in the middle of a sparkling, clear, blue ocean.

The owl... low res shot, but it will give you the idea of where I'm going.

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I saw a photo of an Eastern Screech Owl recently and became immediately taken with its haunting, human type eyes. I knew I had to incorporate one into my next painting... hence the birth of "For the Love of Pia,"- an owl in love. We always think of our feelings about animals, but what about our impact on their feelings. While owls are not typically pets, I'm sure in their world, they have some sort of perception of us. What if an owl fell in love with a human? One that is as beautiful as Pia ( a name that popped into my head for the title for no particular reason. I don't even know a Pia )?
This is a work in progress. I'm not even sure how it will end up. Many times I can visualize the completed painting, and sometimes I let the painting dictate its end story to me, albeit it may take some time to finish.

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