Just unboxed a bunch of big canvases
Can’t wait to get to work!
Standing Naked in Front of a Crowd
In “Top Fifty Questions”, I answer the top 50 questions I’m asked as an artist (usually at cocktail parties and other fun social events).
How does an artist feel before a big art exhibition?
Like standing naked in front of a crowd!
Do you know that feeling of creating something new (product, recipe, marketing campaign, etc), and then feeling exposed and vulnerable when you revealed it?
Well, that’s how we artists feel every time our art is exposed to the world . . . vulnerable. It’s true for novice artists as well as the most experienced and even (I hear) famous artists.
Putting on a brave face before my Open Studio event
Behind me is ‘Posh’, oil painting by Holly Van Hart
And the bigger the art exhibition, the greater the feeling of exposure. The reason is that the most authentic artwork will reflect an artist’s deepest feelings and thoughts and ideas.
So when we exhibit our art, it feels like we’re standing naked in front of a crowd. (Or how I imagine that would feel, as I’ve never actually been naked in front of a crowd.)
Holly
‘Into the Light’
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Into the Light
24 x 30 oil painting by Holly Van Hart
I wanted this painting to capture our attention with its warm autumn colors, and to tempt us to walk toward the light at the end of the path.
What’s down that path? There’s only one way to know. Come with me, let’s go for a stroll!
btw, on a topic related to color . . . are you moving into a new home, remodeling, or just freshening up a room? Are you wondering how to use color successfully in your home or office? If so, you can get a Free Color Guide by clicking here – ‘The Top 7 Designer Secrets for Adding Color to Your Space‘.
Let’s stay in touch! Learn more
The Sun’s Warmth – New abstracted forest painting
Like a cat, I love feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin. Do you?
Come step into this sun-soaked forest . . .
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The Sun’s Warmth
36 x 48″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart
$4800
Story behind the painting
This painting is hanging in my home, but it could be hanging in yours 🙂
Would you like to see this painting in person? Email me for a studio visit.
To purchase, email holly.vanhart@gmail.com. Free shipping in the continental US.
Latest art news – The Two Yvonne’s
Hi there.
Every once in a while in my VIP emails, I feature a collector of my work. Here’s a fun fact. Two collectors of my paintings are both named Yvonne and they are both CEOs of San Francisco-area companies. What a coincidence!
Meet Yvonne Linney –
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Mirada Fine Art Gallery (ongoing)
If you’re in the Denver area, please come see my latest paintings at Mirada Fine Art gallery.
I’m proud to be working with this prestigious gallery. It has been selected for many awards, including American Art Awards “Top 25 US Galleries”.
Vibrations in Time (on wall, right)
Mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart
At Mirada Fine Art
‘Building the Future’
Building the Future
24″ x 18″ oil painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
See available paintings here
‘Building the Future’ is about the choices we make for ourselves, and the excitement of preparing for a big life-change.
If the hands in this painting look at all familiar, it may be because they were inspired by Rodin’s sculpture ‘The Three Muses”. To see some of my earlier work inspired by Rodin, click here.
This is the first of a few paintings in my Possibilities series that were inspired by Rodin. Living in Silicon Valley, we’re close to Stanford University and its amazing Rodin Sculpture Garden. I love any excuse to get back there! Stay tuned for more . . .
(If you’re curious about the Possibilities series, you can read more here, “What’s up with all the eggs and nests?“)
Comments?
Purchase
Commission a custom painting similar to this
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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!
What do you like most about being an artist?
Palm Winds
Detail of oil painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
See full painting here
In “Top Fifty Questions”, I’ll answer the top 50 questions I’m asked as an artist.
What do you like most about being an artist?
The absolute best thing about being an artist is that it opens up a whole world of connections and friendships. It also strengthens the friendships I already have. I love that.
In terms of my work, I love creating a painting that is a personal breakthrough, or that others really like. (The overlap is not always 100%.) It’s hugely inspiring when a painting wins an award, or is accepted into an exhibit, or is purchased by a collector. These things make me thrilled to be in the studio and painting every day.
Where can I get prints of your paintings?
New! High quality prints available
Holly Van Hart’s award winning nature paintings are now available as high quality prints. You can shop online here for prints on canvas, framed prints, acrylic prints, metal prints, and more.
Scroll below to see the options, or click for a larger view of available prints. Enjoy shopping!
Possibilities Alight
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Possibilities Alight
24 x 30 x 2.5″ oil painting by Holly Van Hart
$2500
Story behind the painting
Meet “Possiblities Alight”. This painting features a bird’s nest resting in the middle of brilliantly lit branches and flowers.
All my paintings with nests are meant to express the boundless possibilities and opportunities we have in our lives, and are part of my “Possibilities” series. Larger-than-life eggs and nests symbolize the promise of our own capabilities, to be nurtured and explored and stretched to their fullest potential.
Interested? For purchase info, email holly.vanhart@gmail.com.
More info here –
Studio visit
Purchase details
Try Before You Buy program
If you’d like to see more available paintings, click here.
Do Tortured Souls Create Better Art?
Some people think that depressed or angry people create better art. Is that true?
Or, can happy people create masterpieces too?
There are no simple answers to these questions of course, but just for fun let’s look at a sample of the world’s greatest artists (my personal faves) and explore the question. Here goes . . .
“The New Novel”, Winslow Homer, 1877
Winslow Homer (1836-1910) was considered the greatest American painter of his time. He created extraordinary landscapes, marine paintings, and figures too. Homer was a recluse and a bit odd, but not depressed, enraged or insane. That’s one point for ‘satisfied souls’.
“Goat Horn with Red”, Georgia O’Keeffe, 1945
Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) revolutionized American modern art with bold abstracts, landscapes and flowers. For decades she lived by herself in New Mexico, and sometimes suffered from serious depression. One point for ‘tortured souls’.
“No. 1 (Royal Red and Blue)”, Mark Rothko, 1954
Mark Rothko (1903-1970) was a Russian-Jewish abstract painter who emigrated to the US at the age of 10. He achieved huge commercial success during his lifetime. Rothko was most certainly depressed, drank heavily, took barbiturates, and sadly, at age 66, committed suicide. Add a second point for ‘tortured’.
“Norham Castle – Sunrise”, JMW Turner, c 1835
JMW Turner (1775-1851) was a renowned English landscape painter known as “the painter of light”. Turner seemed like a fairly normal guy. He had plenty of friends, and wasn’t depressed, enraged, or insane. Now it’s even, two points for ‘tortured’ and two points for ‘satisfied’.
“La Grande Vallee XIII”, Joan Mitchell, 1983
Joan Mitchell (1925 -1992) was a prominent Abstract Expressionist who lived in Chicago, Manhattan, and Paris. Mitchell was an alcoholic, often depressed, and described many of her paintings as “violent and angry”. ‘Tortured souls’ lead at 3 points to 2.
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Dance of Chances
31 x 50″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart
$4500
This last painting, very humbly put after the ‘greats’ above it, is mine. As for me, am I enraged or depressed or feeling like a tortured soul? No, not especially, but on any given day I may be any of those things. (Just ask my husband and children.) Is my art better on those days? No, but I think it is more experimental, sometimes to better effect but not always.
Summing up this totally non-scientific survey . . . The ‘tortured souls’ are ahead at 3 points (Rothko, O’Keeffe, Mitchell) to 2 (Turner, Homer). Perhaps the conclusion is ‘you don’t have to be unhappy to create great art, but it helps’.
What do you think? Do tortured souls create more expressive art? Leave a comment on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hollyvanhart or Email me with your thoughts – holly.vanhart@gmail.com
Related links:
New tree painting! Mirror World
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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.
Would you like to see all available paintings? Click here to request a digital catalog.
New – Cocktail paired with a 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)
For a holiday party, I paired a painting with a custom cocktail. ‘The Boundary of Spring’ (above) was paired with a cocktail I named ‘Spring-tini’.
Here’s the recipe –
2 ounces vodka
1 ounce pear juice
1 ounce rosemary syrup (I used rosemary from our front garden)
A squeeze of fresh lemon (we picked the lemons from trees in our back yard)
Rosemary sprig, for garnish
Why Spring-tini is paired with The Boundary of Spring
The Spring-tini cocktail has pear juice. Pear is a soft flavor; it is analogous to the soft sky in the painting.
Rosemary has a tea-like aroma and an assertive piney flavor; it is analogous to the stronger color of the green/brown ground in the painting.
Vodka is a subtle but absolutely necessary component of this drink. Similarly, the texture in the painting is both subtle and absolutely necessary to the success of the painting.
Enjoy!
Art achievement award from the National Association of Pen Women
February 1, 2020 –
Today I was just awarded a prestigious art achievement award from the National Association of Pen Women. Feeling so very honored!!
At the Celebrity Luncheon for the National League of American Pen Women, about to receive the arts achievement award. (Thanks to Patricia Dennis for the photo.)
[Top 50 Questions] What subjects inspire you?
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Writing My Own Fate
48 x 60″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
My husband is a gardener. I feel very fortunate to have his beautiful trees and and flowers growing all around us as inspiration for my paintings.
On my short walk to the studio each day, I pass bougainvillea, roses, amaryllis, daffodils, lemons, oranges, figs and more (depending on the season). Lucky me!
I am also inspired every time I go for a walk in our neighborhood and on local hiking trails.
Purchase
Commission a nature painting
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Let’s stay in touch! Learn more
‘What inspires you?’ (TV interview)
Learn more about what inspires me as an artist in this ‘Talk Art’ cable TV interview by Sally Rayn (excerpt).
Click here to see the full video.
What’s the best thing about being an artist?
Meet Diane F
Adventurer, Mom, Retired Sales Executive
A collector of my art, and now a friend
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!
Really. The absolute best part of being an artist is that it gives me an excuse to get to know you better. I feel honored to know you, and to keep in touch with you.
(Plus, as you may have guessed, I love playing around with gorgeous, buttery oil paints all day long.)
So, today I’m featuring Diane F, a fascinating and accomplished woman, a collector of my art, and now a friend.
Here are some of the many things that are totally cool about Diane –
- As a sales exec in the electronics industry, Diane aimed to retire by the age of 45 and succeeded.
- Last year, Diane became a Mom of an amazingly adorable son.
- She holds a Masters degree in Computer Education
- While in college, Diane led a group of 50 teenagers on a bus tour across the US.
- As a world traveler and adventurer, she has (in her words) “seen half the world, and still has half to go”.
Diane recently remodeled her home, and commissioned me to make a painting for her spacious living room. In honor of Diane’s cool accomplishments, the painting is named ‘Dreams within Reach’.
Video – The making of Diane F’s custom painting
(Link to all videos on Holly’s YouTube video channel)
It’s a privilege to know you Diane!!!
New article just published in Outdoor Painter Magazine
My article “Conveying our Deepest Emotions” was just published in Outdoor Painter magazine 
“A great painting conveys an artist’s deepest emotions. When we encounter a masterpiece, it stirs up something primal that causes us to stop, stare, pause, . . . . ” [click for full article]
What’s your favorite color? (video)
For more videos, click here – http://hollyvanhart.com/YouTube-Videos
[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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All the Corners of My Mind
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All the Corners of My Mind
36 x 48 mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
Each of us has so many dreams. If we search in all the corners of our minds, we’ll find dreams for our relationships, careers, homes, travels, and much much more.
The flowers in this painting represent our dreams, shown in their full color and glory. By remembering to give thought and attention to our most important dreams, we can live fuller and more abundant lives.
Here’s wishing that our biggest, boldest dreams come true!
Here are some details pics –
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- All the Corners of My Mind (detail, upper right)
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- All the Corners of My Mind (detail, right)
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- All the Corners of My Mind (detail, bottom left)
And here’s the completed painting –
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All the Corners of My Mind
36 x 48 mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
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All the Corners of My Mind
36 x 48″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart
This painting is sold. To see available paintings, click here.
Let’s stay in touch! Learn more
What inspires you? (Free eBook)
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[/vc_column_text][vcex_form_shortcode style=”modern” full_width=”true” width=”300px”][/vcex_form_shortcode][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][/vc_row]Above All Things
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Above All Things
48 x 48″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
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Above All Things
48 x 48″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart
To live life to the fullest, we’re often told to give the highest value to our relationships. And that things like fancy cars, clothes, homes, TVs, phones, etc give us only very fleeting pleasure.
Do you find this to be true for yourself?
I do, for the most part. Spending time with family and friends is my absolute favorite thing in the world. Hands down. Without question. I value these relationships above all things. (Hence the name of the painting.)
Don’t get me wrong . . . many things give me lasting pleasure too. Mostly visual things. I still love the shape of the wedding ring we picked out over 15 years ago. And the windows in our home that let in lots of light. And some pieces of our furniture. My husband’s garden. The list is very long.
What’s your experience? What do you value ‘above all things’?
To check out more flower paintings and the inspirations behind them, click here.
This painting is sold. To see all available paintings, click here.
How do you know when a painting is done?
Possibilities in Full Color
24″ x 30″ oil painting by Holly Van Hart
Purchase (email holly.vanhart@gmail.com)
When I look at the painting and am pleased with it, then it’s done.
To be pleased with it, the painting needs to convey the desired idea or feeling or mood, be well designed, well executed, and have some kind of pop or surprise or glow that makes it special. If it’s missing any one of these things, it’s not finished!
I sometimes have the feeling that a painting is done, but then after a couple of weeks, decide it needs further tweaks or even major changes. Then it goes back to the easel.
On rare occasions, I know right away when a painting is done. It feels like a personal breakthrough, and all the stars and moons have aligned, and I’m really digging what I see in front of me. Wish I had more of those days 🙂
Click here to see the rest of the Top 50 Questions
Be the first to get Holly Van Hart’s latest paintings, art exhibit news, and VIP members-only special offers (includes a free gift). Click here to learn more.
What inspires you to paint?
This is one of the top questions I get asked as an artist!
I am inspired by . . .
– the painting process itself – creating something new and different using canvas, pigments, and my imagination
– the idea of communicating ideas and feelings and energy to other people through the finished work, and
– seeing the paintings resonate with you, the viewer. This is one of the very best parts!
What inspires *you* and keeps you invigorated?
To see how I answered this question in my ‘Talk Art’ TV interview, click here.
This is one of the top 50 questions I get asked as an artist. Click here to see the rest of the Top 50 Questions (with answers!)
What is the hardest part of creating a painting?
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Relaxing in the Pause
31 x 50″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart
$4500
Story behind the painting
What is the hardest part of creating a painting?
The hardest part of creating a painting is coming up with an amazing idea, and then turning that idea into an inspired design.
Producing the painting (that is, putting the paint on the canvas) isn’t a piece of cake either, but that seems to flow once the first part is nailed down.
Click here to see the rest of the Top 50 Questions
Have a question to add to the top 50? Ask away (in the comments section below or send an email to holly.vanhart@gmail.com).
New Tree Painting Inspired by a New York Forest
Here’s the story of the inspiration and making of a new tree painting named Summer Sparkle –
Erik (our younger son) gave me a tour of the lush New York forest. He drove my Dad’s ATV. I sat behind him and snapped photos.
One of the 100+ photos I took while on the ATV that afternoon.
In keeping with my theme of limitless possibilities, I’m inspired by subjects that reveal life and growth and abundance. In this case, lush green trees were everywhere. I also like the sense of motion in this pic.
Back in the studio . . . the start of a new forest painting, ‘Summer Sparkle’
In progress pic of ‘Summer Sparkle’ (detail)
Completed painting – Summer Sparkle
48 x 36″ oil painting by Holly Van Hart
‘Autumn Dance‘ ‘Summer Sparkle’ and ‘Amid the Scent of Roses‘
They are hanging in my living room, but they could be in yours :-).
This story was first published for my VIP subscribers. If you would like to be first to see new paintings, please become a VIP.
To see all tree and forest paintings, click here.
Gallery Exhibitions
My work can be seen in ongoing exhibitions at these fine art galleries – The Studio Shop, Mirada Fine Art, and JCO’s Art Haus.
These paintings (and more) can be viewed at the galleries –
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Autumn Dance
48 x 36 mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart
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Woodland Symphony
60 x 40 oil and acrylic painting by Holly Van Hart
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Whispered Peace
54 x 54″ mixed media painting by Holly Van Hart
(Three 54 x 18″ canvases, installed)
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Your Highest Potential
30 x 40 oil painting by Holly Van Hart
Wishing you a fabulous day!
Soft Start
Oil painting by Holly Van Hart (sold)
Buy a print
Wishing that your day will be as full of exciting possibilities . . .
as the eggs being incubated in this cozy feathered nest.
(Do any birds’ nests actually look like this? Well, yes, kind of . . . learn more here.
Holly
P.S. Soft Start was featured in my solo exhibition at the Triton Museum of Art. Would you like to know more about the show? You’re invited to read my interview in the Huffington Post, or to view the pics and videos from the museum exhibition.