‘Dreaming in Full Color’
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Dreaming in Full Color
24 x 30 oil painting by Holly Van Hart
Here’s wishing that our biggest, boldest, most colorful dreams come true!
Let’s stay in touch! Learn more
If not me, who? If not now, when?
“If not me, who? If not now, when?” These are the words that Dr. Leslie Field asked herself about tackling the huge problem of global warming.
Dr. Field is a prolific inventor, the Founder of SmallTech Consulting, a Consulting Prof at Stanford University, a mom of two, an art-lover, and the founder of Ice911.
Ice911 is a boots on the ground solution to reduce global warming.
In this Facebook Live interview with Dr. Field, we learn more about what inspired her to start Ice911, and the steps she is taking now to slow down global warming.
Click below to listen and to get inspired!
Free eBook – Solo Exhibition at the Triton Museum of Art
This 28-page book features the richly colored oil paintings exhibited by Holly Van Hart at the Triton Museum of Art.
This book includes essays by DeWitt Cheng and Preston Metcalf –
“Van Hart’s naturalistic yet symbolic paintings present their enigmatic subjects with both beauty and conviction, memorably”
– DeWitt Cheng, Art writer for Art Ltd, Artillery, ARTnews, and Visual Art Source
“powerful in its message of human connectivity”
– Preston Metcalf, Chief Curator of the Triton Museum of Art
Click for FREE Instant Download
(This book is also available on Amazon for $27)
If you like this book, please share it with your friends!
Painting Inspirations Book
Free eBook!
Treat yourself to
inspiring art and ideas.
Get Holly Van Hart’s
Top 25 Paintings and favorite inspirational quotes.
Free Instant Download. Enter your email here –
(Printed book available on Amazon for $19.99)
Video by Holly Van Hart – How a painting is created
Many of you have been curious about the painting process, and how paintings are created. Watch this video to learn my take on this topic.
This is the first of a series of videos I’ll publish on how a painting is created. Enjoy!
What gives you the most joy?
Your Highest Potential
30 x 40″ oil painting by Holly Van Hart
$3,200
To purchase, contact Pam Regan at Bluestone Fine Art Gallery
or email holly.vanhart@gmail.com
Joy, delight, happiness, gladness, glee, exhilaration, exuberance, elation, euphoria, bliss, ecstasy, rapture.
We want it all!
How do you like to create joy in your life?
If your world is anything like mine, sometimes the days are so busy that it takes conscious thought to make time for life’s most delightful moments.
For me, in any one week I’m abundantly happy when I’ve enjoyed all of these experiences –
- time connecting with my 3 men (husband and 2 sons), other family, and friends
- lots of laughter
- absorbing nature and getting some exercise with hikes and bike rides
- contributing to an important cause, usually with a focus on children, women, or art
- feeling that I’ve advanced in life in some meaningful way (relationships, health, career)
- painting, of course!
- remembering to be full of thanks, wonder and awe for all of the above
What makes you happy?
If you have any tips for creating more bliss in life, please drop me a line at holly.vanhart@gmail.com, I’m all ears.
Top questions I’m asked as an artist –
How do you know when a painting is done?
How much time does it take to complete a painting?
Why do we love birch trees so much?
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 –
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Autumn Dance
48 x 36″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
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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’
This painting is sold. To see all available paintings, click here.
The making of a rose painting (video)
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Amid the Scent of Roses
30 x 24 oil painting by Holly Van Hart
Detail shots of ‘Amid the Scent of Roses’ –
Watch a video of this painting being made here.
If you’d like to see this painting in person, please email me, holly.vanhart@gmail.com
Thanks for your interest!
Do you believe in unlimited possibilities?
Unlimited Possibilities
Oil painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
Buy a print
“Unlimited Possibilities” is all about the unlimited possibilities of the baby birds, not yet hatched, with their whole lives still ahead of them.
Parallels can be easily be made with our own lives and our children’s lives. No matter what age we might be now, the possibilities ahead really are unlimited. How exciting!
If you look closely, you can see underlying texture on this painting is oval shaped; this is meant harmonize with the shape of the eggs themselves.
The texture adds complexity to the painting, and symbolizes the complexity of nature and our lives. We may have unlimited possibilities in our lives, but it’s not always easy to take advantage of them.
Unlimited Possibilities
Side view
20″ x 20″ oil painting by Holly Van Hart
Unlimited Possibilities was one of 18 paintings in my solo exhibition at the Triton Museum of Art. For videos, pics, and a Triton Museum catalog (free), click here.
Walk on the Wild Side (botanical painting)
Walk on the Wild Side
30 x 40″ oil painting by Holly Van Hart
$3800
Interested? Please email holly.vanhart@gmail.com, or call 650 646 5590.
Thanks for being here 🙂
😍 What fascinates you? 😍
Hello, my fearless friend.
What things in life fascinate you? What do you really love?
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strong pull of what you truly love.” — Rumi
My top loves include family & friends, spending time in nature, and exploring faraway places. And, of course, painting 🙂
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High school starts this week for our sons, so we did some family outings to San Francisco and Santa Cruz. This is us as we walked over the Golden Gate bridge, through a thick fog bank. I really love spending time with these 3 men! (That’s Erik on the left, and Ike on the right. Skyler snapped the photo.) |
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| Other landscape paintings are still available. Would you like to see them? Click here – |
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| OK, my most amazing friend . . . three cheers to you for following your fascinations! |
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| P.S. Into forests or flowers instead? |
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| btw, if this email was forwarded to you, and you’d like to get on my VIP list to receive future emails (one every 3 weeks), click here. |
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Abstract forest painting, ‘Every Restless Night’
Hi there! Thanks for being here to check out my new work. Here’s the latest!
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Every Restless Night
48 x 48″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart
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Every Restless Night
Mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart
This painting has gotten great feedback & has been featured on the cover of Denver Life magazine.
Every Restless Night, 48×48″ painting by Holly Van Hart
Featured on the cover of Denver Life Magazine
Questions? Interested? Please contact Steve Sonnen of Mirada Fine Art gallelry, (303) 697-9006, info@miradafineart.com or holly.vanhart@gmail.com
Sweet Escape
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Sweet Escape
30 x 40 oil painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
See available forest paintings here
We all need to escape sometimes!
Running Free
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Running Free
48 x 48 ” mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart (Sold)
See available forest paintings here
Do you ever feel like leaving all your obligations and routines behind (at least for an hour or two, or a week or two)? Do you feel like running free?
I’d like viewers to look at this painting and get that exact feeling. To get lost in the forest and the light, and to feel completely unencumbered.
Ready?
If you’d like to see some in-progress pics of this painting, here you go –
Running Free is sold, but you can <a href=”https:///available-paintings/#forest-paintings” target=”_blank”>see available forest paintings here</a>.
Want to be the first to see new paintings as they are released? Become a VIP! Click for details.
Nestled close to our loved ones
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Nestled
30 x 40 oil painting by Holly Van Hart
Nestled is about the warm feelings of being nestled close to our loved ones. The variety of the twigs and branches in the nest symbolize the variety of personalities and habits and desires we have within our own families. They are all intertwined.
When you click on the image to get a larger view, you can see some of the texture that underlies this painting. This is meant to convey the complexity and nuances of the interactions in our families, oftentimes unseen to the outside world.
Gallery Wrap side view of “Nestled”
This painting is sold, but prints are available here.
Originally published in 2013, and updated with info on prints
[Top 50 Questions] Will this painting look good in my home?
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Autumn Dance,
Summer Sparkle,
and Amid the Scent of Roses
Mixed media paintings by Holly Van Hart
In “Top Fifty Questions”, I answer the top questions I’m asked as an artist. (These are usually asked at cocktail parties and other fun social events.)
Will this painting look good in my home? Great question. Here’s my take . . . if you fall in love with a painting, you can almost always find the right spot to hang it in your home. You may have to move another painting or a mirror or a print. But if you love the new painting, it’s worth the effort.
If you’re interested in one of the paintings here on my website, but are not sure if it will work in your living room, dining room, etc, please email me at holly.vanhart@gmail.com. If you live locally, I can take the painting (or a few paintings) to your home and we can try them out. If one works, great. If not, no worries.
To see related advice and ideas from interior design professionals, click here.
Leaves and Spiders!
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- Trying out something new and more abstract. This painting will still be tree-like, as you’ll see soon . . .
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- Adding more ‘leaves’
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- Still more ‘leaves’. This is quite experimental, still not sure where it will land up at this stage . . .
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- Got some reference photos for branches, and will use those as inspiration. Stay tuned!
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- Started adding some branches. Still not sure how this painting will turn out!
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- I like the branches but they are too dark and need to be softened.
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- Finished! I wanted the feeling of light through the branches. Whisper’s Embrace, Mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart, 48 x 48 inches.
This painting is sold, but you can see the latest available paintings here.
To see more pics and articles on ‘What Inspired This Painting?’, click here.
‘Embracing the Light’ is paired with a custom cocktail
Embracing the Light
48 x 60″ mixed media painting on canvas by Holly Van Hart
Sold
For a holiday party, I paired paintings with custom cocktails. ‘Embracing the Light’ (above) was paired with a cocktail I named ‘Red Smash’.
Here’s the recipe –
2 ounces London dry gin
1 ounce cranberry juice
1 ounce Rose’s lime juice
Whole fresh cranberries, for garnish
It was a big hit!!
Why Red Smash is paired with Embracing the Light
In keeping with the Dutch theme for our party . . . gin was first made in Holland and is known as ‘Dutch courage’.
The gin in this drink uses juniper berries as its primary ingredient. ‘Embracing the Light’ is primarily dark green, like juniper.
Gin uses ‘botanicals’ to give it its complex flavor. In addition to juniper, Boodles British Gin includes hints of coriander seed, angelica root, angelica seed, cassia bark, nutmeg, rosemary and sage. The painting ‘Embracing the Light’ uses an equally wide range of colors to give it its complexity; in fact it uses all the colors of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple) and many variations.
Enjoy! (The cocktail and the painting!)
Birch Trees in the Fall
Autumn Gold
24 x 18 oil painting by Holly Van Hart
In the heat of the summer, I was dreaming about the crisp fall days of my favorite season. So here’s ‘Autumn Gold’.
Who doesn’t love the colors of fall leaves? The variety and brilliance are an artist’s dream!
To see more abstract forest paintings, click here.
Let’s stay in touch! Learn more
Abstract forest painting – Wandering in Wonder
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Wandering in Wonder
48 x 60″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
Does ‘Wandering in Wonder’ make you want to wander through this forest? And take in the wonder of nature and life? Hope so!
Here’s how this painting looks in a living room –
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Three abstracted forest paintings by Holly Van Hart
From left to right, Woodland Symphony, Wandering in Wonder, Grand Escape
Wandering in Wonder is sold, but you can see available forest, flower, landscape, and nest paintings here.
More info here –
Studio visit
Purchase details
Try Before You Buy program
Questions? Email holly.vanhart@gmail.com.
Thanks for your interest!
Lessons Learned – Building your own website
Summer Sparkle
48 x 36″ oil and acrylic painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
Buy a print
A couple of years ago, I set about creating a brand new art website (the site you’re on right now). I learned lots, had fun, and am happy with the result. But it took waaaaaaaaay longer than expected.
So that others could learn from my experience, I wrote an article about lessons learned called “Build Your Own Website in 10 Minutes (Not)“. The article is posted on Alyson Stanfield’s art marketing blog, artbizcoach.com blog. Read the article here.
btw, if you’re an artist, I’d highly recommend subscribing to the artbizcoach.com blog.
Do you have any experience with building your own website? If so, we’d love to hear from you – holly.vanhart@gmail.com
What’s the favorite part of your job?
What’s the favorite part of your job? Whether you’re a banker, lawyer, stay-at-home parent, or an artist, we all have something we love most about our jobs.
The favorite part of my job is . . . you!
For realz. The absolute best part of being an artist is that it gives me an excuse to get to know you better.
So, today I’m featuring a collector of my art and friend, Tamami Honma –
Tamami Honma
Internationally acclaimed pianist
Friend and a collector of my art
Here are some of the many things that are totally cool about Tamami –
- Tamami is an internationally acclaimed pianist who has performed in many of the world’s great musical institutions.
- Tamami is head of the Saratoga Education Foundation, and (for the last 6 years) a cub scout leader. Scouts is where we met.
- She is a mother of 4 gorgeous children. All except the youngest play 2 instruments.
- If you want to see one of her absolutely breathtaking performances, check out the performance schedule here – http://www.tamamihonma.com/ .
I’m honored that 4 of my paintings hang in Tamami’s home. The latest is Rose Jamboree –
Rose Jamboree
Oil painting by Holly Van Hart
See latest nature paintings
Watch a video of this painting being made here.
(Link to all videos on Holly’s YouTube video channel)
It’s a privilege to know you Tamami!!!
[Top 50 Questions] Do you use photo references?
Often I’ll start a painting by creating a realistic rendering of the subject. Once I’m pleased with the design and the how the subject looks, then I put away the photo references and the real fun begins! I crank up the music, get loose, use my imagination, and start introducing exciting not-found-in-nature colors and shapes and rhythms. This is where the ‘abstract’ of my ‘abstract nature paintings’ comes in.
Click here to see the rest of the Top 50 Questions
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[Top 50 Questions] Do you ever miss being in high tech?
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Flush With Possibilities
40 x 30 oil painting by Holly Van Hart
In “Top Fifty Questions”, I’ll answer the top things I’m asked as an artist. (These questions usually come up at cocktail parties and other fun social events.)
Do you ever miss being in high tech?
Sure!
I definitely miss seeing my work-friends and colleagues more regularly. They were/are an amazingly talented and multi-faceted group of people. Good thing Facebook and LinkedIn give us an easy way to keep in touch!
What I also loved about high tech was the opportunity to constantly stretch myself and learn new things. Luckily I have that in abundance as an artist too.
One thing’s for sure . . . Being a full-time artist feels like what I was meant to do.
To read more about my career move to professional artist, click here.
Have you ever tried meditation?
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Alternate Reality
30 x 40 oil painting by Holly Van Hart
Have you ever tried meditation?
I’ve tried it multiple times, including a 2-day class in Indonesia, but failed miserably each time. I can’t calm my mind in that way.
On the other hand, the act of painting has a meditative quality to it that I love.
Painting can completely absorb me and transport me to a different place.
My paintings often go through a bunch of twists and turns before they are done. Sometimes, by the end of all that, I don’t quite remember how things progressed along the way.
‘Alternate Reality’ (shown above) was a painting that was totally absorbed me like that.
It felt so refreshing. Lucky me.
Do you have a meditation practice, activity, hobby or job like that? If so, lucky you!
New Tree Painting – Standing tall
Trees can have a commanding presence, especially when they are tall. Do you love being surrounded by towering forest? I do!
I aimed to capture that feeling here with my new tree painting, Standing Tall –
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Standing Tall
48 x 48″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart
Available through GP Deva Gallery. Contact Iris Shih, helloiris@gpdeva.com
Here are some in-progress pics for this painting –
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- The first step was to loosely paint very tall tree trunks. Next, I started adding leaves (upper right).
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- Next, I painted the leaves, and the shadows on the ground.
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- Studying what to do next. I decided to brighten up the leaves in the foreground, and add more colorful leaves in the background (using heavier texture).
Here’s the finished painting –
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Standing Tall
48 x 48″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart
Available through GP Deva Gallery. Contact Iris Shih, helloiris@gpdeva.com
Want to be the 1st to see pre-release paintings? Click here to become a VIP member.
New! Petite Treasures
The holidays are almost here. Need a special gift for your special someone?
New! Petite Treasures are gift-sized original paintings by yours truly. They are created with the same great care used with my large-scale paintings, and with the highest quality archival materials. Each painting is museum-quality and ready to hang in the finest of homes and work spaces.
Click to see all available Petite Treasures
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Magical Mystery Tour
9 x 12″ watercolor painting on paper by Holly Van Hart
$350
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Curious Poses
9 x 12″ watercolor painting on paper by Holly Van Hart
$350
Treat yourself or a loved one! Click to see all available Petite Treasures.
Additional info here – Purchase / Guarantee / Gift Certificates, Petite Treasures, Try Before You Buy, Studio Visit
The Boundary of Spring
One of my recent paintings took an imaginative and unexpected turn. It started out as one thing, but ended up as something else entirely!
I started this painting thinking it would be an abstracted forest. Once the sky was painted, I was going to let it dry before working on the trees and leaves.
But . . . I was really digging the colors and simplicity of this first layer of paint, and decided to go in a different direction.
The painting would be an abstract landscape. It would need many more layers to give it the depth and glow I was seeking.
And here’s the finished painting . . .
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The Boundary of Spring
48 x 36″ oil painting on canvas by Holly Van Hart (sold)
Story behind the painting (with in progress pics)
What does this painting make you think of? I’ve heard many different interpretations from friends and other studio vistors!
The Boundary of Spring
48 x 36″ oil and acrylic painting by Holly Van Hart
$4800
Currently hanging in my entryway, but it could be hanging in yours!
More info
* For purchase info, click here.
* Questions? Interested in owning this painting? Please contact holly.vanhart@gmail.com or 650 646 5590. Your email or call is always welcome.
* See this painting in person with a studio visit or with the try-out program.
What’s the meaning of this painting?
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Forest Reverie
48 x 36 oil painting by Holly Van Hart
I am inspired by life’s limitless possibilities, and my abstract nature paintings are meant to spark new excitement about reaching our biggest, boldest dreams.
This latest painting ‘Forest Reverie’ represents the beginning of a new year or a new season. Colorful opportunities sparkle all around us, and beckon us to reach them. Will we pick the closest, easiest one, or will we stretch further to find our passion?
Let’s stay in touch! Learn more
This blog post is the latest addition to my ‘Top 50 Questions’ list. See/read more here.