Earth Garden

A new painting that I have been returning to day after day as a sanctuary of peace. A hectic, active outward life is balanced by this eternal inner forest.

This is the Right Place

 

 There are certain geographical places on this spinning globe that resonate more strongly with each individual being than others. The Ausable River is one of those places for me.
The twisted roots embracing the rocks, the ancient rock cliffs, the deep dark pools and the roaring waterfalls all make me ecstatically happy when I am around them.

Painting up a Storm

Storm / 48" x 48" / acrylic on canvas

These are my favorite months to be in the studio. The holiday festivities are over and there are few interruptions to the flow of my work at this time. One painting seems to lead to another and I love to work on different series at the same time. I am so often surprised by where the paint leads me. For example, I was completely absorbed in some highly textured, hot colored paintings when all of a sudden this piece appeared. I always chuckle to myself when this happens, its as if I am being reminded that it is not really me in charge but the paintings will decide when and what is to appear on the canvas.  At least I have learned to trust that process and follow where I am led. I truly am painting up a storm these days! This was so fun to play with the muted palette and let the tree forms emerge and recede as I applied the layers of paint that veiled them more or less.

Art Barn Poetry Walk Book

Behind the Art Barn where I work and exhibit for the summer have been various "Poetry Walks" that I have collaborated on with different poets over the years. This year's version of the walk is a combination of poets whose work deeply inspires me as I feel an increasingly profound love and respect for the earth, which intensifies with each painting that releases itself from within. Below are several photos of the walk which really don't don't compare with the experience of walking it. The swaying pines click and whisper above, the wind caresses you, and the scent of pine needles washes over you to awaken your senses in a flood of memories, reminding us of who we are to each other and all living beings. The images included in the book are mostly of one painting, "Weaving Roots of Time" as it progressed in my studio from day to day and week to week. The layers and stories beneath the painting and the woven roots of all of us, so interconnected at times it is difficult to tell where one begins and another ends. The poets are Susan Griffin, who expresses with words what I feel with paint. I end the walk with a poem by Barbara Deming, "Spirit of Love" a poem that I made copies to hand out at one of my first exhibitions over 25 years ago. And finally a joyful poem of recognition by Joy Harjo.

The Poetry Walk has been made into a book which anyone can preview and/or order a copy by clicking on the link below:

Art Barn Poetr...

By Paintings by: Holl...

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