Anonymous for a Little While 48 x 60″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
New! Where would this path lead us to? Not sure? Neither am I, but it looks like a fun and colorful place. Let’s check it out!
Forest and floral paintings by Holly Van Hart Installed in a living room From left to right – Embracing It All, Anonymous for a Little While, The Secrets Within, Vibrations of Time
This painting is sold, but you’re invited to check out these available paintings.
He pointed to one, and then the other, and asked the question . . . which came first, the flowers or the painting?
Oddly enough, the flowers came from my imagination about 6 months before my husband grew his first gladiolus flowers. But his garden is spectacular and will inspire many more paintings to come!
‘Beckoning’ is currently hanging in our home. If you’d like to hang it in yours, please email me at holly.vanhart@gmail.com or call 650 646 5590.
Mirror World 48 x 36″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart $5800 To purchase, contact Iris Shih at X-Power Gallery, angeldeva@gpdeva.com
With this new tree painting, Mirror World, I wanted a feeling of mystery.
The trees in the distance have curiously different colors from the nearer trees. What’s going on there? Let’s take a stroll down this path and see for ourselves!
With every painting, I have an objective for the mood and look of the painting, and a separate artistic objective.
The artistic objective is typically a challenge to myself using new colors or style or different size brushes or canvas.
Here, I challenged myself to paint more loosely, using bigger brushes and with less defined edges. Can you see the difference compared to my other tree paintings? Please drop me a line at holly.vanhart@gmail.com.
I’d like to introduce you to ‘Nest at Night’, the latest member of my Possibilities series.
‘Nest at Night’ is a more abstracted painting than most of the others in this series. I was inspired by –
* the idea (the virtually limitless possibilities we have in our lives if we choose to embrace them),
* the mood (mysterious), and
* the color (a very deep red).
As I was painting, I got absorbed (and even lost) in the reds. It took many layers of oil paint (and believe it or not, many different colors) to achieve the desired hue and depth. The dark reds and the sliver of a moon contribute to the mysterious feel of this work.
Do you like mystery in artwork? I’d love to know; please comment below.
In Reminiscence, I blended two of my favorite subjects – forests and mountain landscapes – onto one large canvas (5 feet across). This is the first painting of this type.
In my travels to over 40 countries, I’ve seen lots of amazing scenery, and this painting was inspired by an amalgamation of vistas observed in these far-off places.
When you look at Reminiscence, do you feel the crisp air? I’d like to invite you to linger and appreciate the beauty of the distant mountains, the ripples on the water, and the light on the trees.
Are you free later today? Want to head off into this vista with me?
With this new tree painting Slipping Between the Notes, the “notes” are the leaves on the trees. My intention was to paint a sunny, happy forest that tempted you to come in and play.
Will you please join me here, running around and slipping between the notes?
Slipping Between the Notes 36 x 48″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart $5800 To purchase, contact Iris Shih at X-Power Gallery, angeldeva@gpdeva.com
Here are some in-progress pics for this painting –
I started by putting a fresh canvas flat on a table. I used lots of drippy paints and tilted the canvas as needed to spread the colors. Then it was left overnight to dry.
Next I painted in the tree trunks, and added bigger blocks of sunny colors throughout.
I started defining the leaves more clearly (see the middle of the painting).
Close up view
Here’s the finished painting –
Slipping Between the Notes 36 x 48″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart $5800 To purchase, contact Iris Shih at X-Power Gallery, angeldeva@gpdeva.com
And here’s how it would look against a blue wall –
Slipping Between the Notes by Holly Van Hart Installed on a kitchen wall Would you like to hang this painting in your home? Contact Iris Shih at X-Power Gallery, angeldeva@gpdeva.com
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Possibilities on High 24 x 30″ oil painting on canvas by Holly Van Hart
Hi there. Meet ‘Possibilities on High’.
In the upper right of this painting, you can see a big and colorful bird’s nest. It’s sitting up high on the branches of huge magnolia tree, on a warm summer day.
The nest looks peacefully and securely settled in the tree. At the same time, it is quite exposed.
If I were an egg, I’d love to live in this nest in a magnolia tree (despite the risks of exposure). Would you?
In “Top Fifty Questions”, I answer the questions I’m most frequently asked as an artist (usually asked at parties and other fun events). For the answers, click on the links. Enjoy!
Boundless Promise 36 x 48″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
My paintings are inspired by life’s limitless possibilities. In Boundless Promise, you’re invited to take a walk down this path with me. Here, we will soak up all the opportunities around us. They are everywhere!
This painting is sold, but you can check out available paintings here. To purchase, email holly.vanhart@gmail.com
Want to see how Boundless Promise was made? Check out these pics and video –
A new forest. My idea for this one is a gorgeous spring day. The type of day that puts you in an instant good mood!
My paintings usually show abundance, in this case lots of trees and (soon) lots of leaves. It’s a way to remind myself (and hopefully all viewers) that life is abundant and full of possibilities!
This bright green instantly brings me to a spring day. Does it do that for you?
Close up view. You can see how roughly it is painted at this stage.
Have you ever noticed how much yellow there is in springtime greenery? Trying to get that gorgeous yellow-green in these leaves.
Adding darker leaves, and adding shadows to the tree trunks
Finished! Boundless Promise, 36 x 48 inch mixed media painting by HVH.
Landscapes are a subject I come back to again and again. Even in the midst of working on a series of forest or flower paintings, sometimes I feel compelled to paint an abstract landscape using oil paints.
With ‘Grazing the Light’, I was aiming to capture the feeling of an overcast day, but with some sunlight breaking through. Across the expanse of water, we can see mountains near and far. But what is that splash of yellow/orange? Is it man-made or natural? It is meant to add mystery to the painting.
It’s hard to see in this digital image, but etched into the foreground of this painting (bottom left) is part of a poem by Walt Whitman, “Every hour is an unspeakably perfect miracle”.
If you’d like to see a higher resolution image, please lmk.
To purchase, email holly.vanhart@gmail.com. Free shipping in the US.
‘Soft Start’ was inspired by the nests of a bird called a swallow. Swallows live on all the earth’s continents except Antarctica. They use the feathers of other birds to line their nests and keep their eggs toasty warm.
Eggs that are incubated in such a cozy nest are surely full of possibilities, but with a softer start than most.
“Van Hart’s paintings . . . present their enigmatic subjects with both beauty and conviction, memorably.” – DeWitt Cheng, Art writer for Art Ltd, Artillery, ARTnews, and Visual Art Source
Palm Winds 30″ x 40″ oil painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
Welcome to the tropics!
As you view “Palm Winds”, can you feel the warm wind on your skin? This painting is meant to instill a feeling of peacefulness from the beauty of the trees, sea, and sky. The empty picnic tables are inviting you to sit down and have a meal. It is a hot day, and the wind is offsetting the tropical heat.
The inspiration for this painting draws on my travels to Tahiti, Thailand, Costa Rica and other places of tropical awesomeness. In addition, it was inspired by an amazing photo taken by my friend Veronique Gillard. (Thank you Veronique!)
Palm Winds Side view 30″ x 40″ oil painting by Holly Van Hart
Possibilities in Full Color 24″ x 30″ oil painting by Holly Van Hart $2500 Story behind the painting
Possibilities in Full Color is about the lives within these 3 eggs, still to be lived. They are meant to be ‘full color’ lives, filled with joy and delight and exciting challenges.
This painting is also about the homes (nests) of the baby birds and their parents. Do you see the reds, oranges, greens, blues, and yellows? This ‘full color’ nest represents the unique and wonderful personalities of all the individuals that live within it, as well as the wonderful variety of homes that birds build for themselves.
What do you see in “Possibilities in Full Color”? It’s always fascinating to learn how paintings are interpreted. I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments (holly.vanhart@gmail.com).
Abundance 30 x 40″ oil painting by Holly Van Hart (sold) Buy a print
Abundance is part of my Possibilities series that includes nests and eggs as the subject. This painting signifies the abundant possibilities that are available to the little lives that are in this very full nest.
The calm of the surface of the eggs is offset by the variety of colors and complicated weaving of the nest. This contrast reflects the reality of our lives, which are often some combination of calm, colorful, and complicated.
Like most of my work, Abundance was built up using multiple layers of oil paints. The layers give a special glow to the eggs, and extra texture and depth to the nest.
Have you ever strolled through a forest and felt strong sunlight beaming through the trees? That’s what I was aiming for with this new painting, Washed in Light. It is set in springtime, with lots of bright yellow-green leaves. Come take a walk with me down the winding path!
Having Fun
Oil painting on canvas by Holly Van Hart
(self portrait)
20 x 16″
“Having Fun” was intended to capture an amazing afternoon spent with 3 girlfriends. We went on a huge hike, and at the top of the mountain, took some goofy photos of each other.
A photo was snapped of me. To keep the moment alive, I used it as inspiration for this painting.
A lot of people don’t realize this is a self-portrait. But my intent was to capture the vibrancy of the moment (not the details of facial features & skin colors).
When I finish a painting, I often let it rest out of sight for a week or two, and then take it out with a fresh eye and make some improvements.
“Having Fun” was different. I finished the painting relatively quickly (for me at least) and then felt it was done. It didn’t get the normal ‘out of sight’ treatment that my other paintings get.
What do you think . . . will this painting stand the test of time?
‘Safe’ 24″ x 18″ oil painting by Holly Van Hart Purchase Info
Looking at ‘Safe’ (above), you can see two hands from two different people. Their right hands are coming together to protect their greatest treasure – a nest filled with eggs.
‘Safe’ is part of my Possibilities series of oil paintings. It is meant to carry a message of warmth and caring and safety.
‘Safe’ was inspired by a sculpture of two right hands created by Auguste Rodin in 1908. Over the years I’ve made dozens of paintings and sketches inspired by Rodin, including ‘Two Left Hands‘, ‘The Kiss‘, and others (see more here).
Rodin’s hands are captivating for many of us. Stanford University’s leading hand surgeon (Dr. James Chang, Professor and Chief of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) was inspired to create a fascinating art-science exhibit around them.
Architect of Peace 48 x 60″ mixed media painting on canvas by Holly Van Hart $7500 Story behind the painting
Trees and forests can be magical, beautiful and mysterious. They captivate me, and have inspired hundreds of landscape paintings.
With Architect of Peace, I want you the viewer to feel intrigued enough to step into the painting. To explore this new world that shimmers with light and colors and peace. Welcome. Enjoy.
Architect of Peace 48 x 60″ mixed media painting on canvas by Holly Van Hart Installed
To enquire about this painting, please email holly.vanhart@gmail.com.
Celebration/Larger Than Life 54 x 72″ Oil painting by Holly Van Hart (sold) Buy a print
The larger-than-life sized nest and eggs in ‘Celebration’ are meant to represent the potential of the human spirit, nestled in nature’s bed. Read more here, “What’s up with all the nests?”
There’s also a personal story behind ‘Celebration’ . . .
Birds will build their nests with whatever materials are available to them. One spring when I was a girl, my mother sprinkled snippets of red yarn in the yard near our summer home. She then encouraged us to see what happened next. Sure enough, a bird built a nest using the beautiful red yarn. (Sure wish I had a photo of that now!)
In ‘Celebration’ the birds have built their nest with twigs and ribbons. To me, ribbons have a celebratory feel, hence the title of the painting.
This painting was created in phases over many months. It leverages what I learned about painting nests and eggs from the other Possibilities paintings, as well as reference photos for the ribbons.
Are you in the mood to celebrate?
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These days, I’m happily immersed in autumnal aspen forests. There’s something about these trees that seems to be universally appealing. For one thing, they are so gorgeous.
Aspens and birches look very similar to each other. If you’re curious what the differences are, here are the highlights –
Birch are famous for having bark that peels back like paper; aspen bark does not peel.
Birch trees grow in the eastern US and Canada, while Aspens are found all over North America, Europe and Russia.
And, amazingly . . . each ‘colony’ of aspen trees actually shares a single large root system. The root system can be huge, covering multiple acres, and can be thousands of years old. As old trees die off, the root system sends up new trunks. Incredible!
How about you . . . what are your favorite trees?
Here’s the completed painting, shown from two different angles –
Breathing Autumn 54 x 54″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart
(Three 54 x 18″ canvases, installed)
$7500 Story behind the painting
Breathing Autumn 54 x 54″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart
(Three 54 x 18″ canvases)
$7500
This painting is hanging in my living room, but it could hanging be in yours 🙂
Dreaming in Full Color 24 x 30 oil painting by Holly Van Hart
The flowers in this painting represent our dreams, shown in their full color and glory. The flowers (dreams) are dancing around through the turbulence and beauty that we call life.
Here’s wishing that our biggest, boldest, most colorful dreams come true!
Do you love birch and aspen trees as much as I do? These days, I’m happily immersed in autumnal birch tree forests.
Here are some details from my in-progress painting, Autumn Dance (48 x 36″) –
There’s something about them that seems to be universally appealing. For one thing, they are so gorgeous.
Birch and aspens look very similar to each other, so I had to look up what the differences are. If you’re curious, here are the highlights –
Birch are famous for having bark that peels back like paper; aspen bark does not peel.
Birch trees grow in the eastern US and Canada, while Aspens are found all over North America, Europe and Russia.
And, amazingly . . . each ‘colony’ of aspen trees actually shares a single large root system. The root system can be huge, covering multiple acres, and can be thousands of years old. As old trees die off, the root system sends up new trunks. Incredible!How about you . . . what are your favorite trees?
btw, here’s the completed painting –
Autumn Dance 48 x 36″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
Autumn Dance 48 x 36″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart
And here’s the completed painting hanging on my living room wall (left) –
‘Autumn Dance’ ‘Summer Sparkle’ and ‘Amid the Scent of Roses’
Adding darker leaves, and adding shadows to the tree trunks
