“I want to invite you into my imaginative and vibrant story, my art, so that you are intrigued enough to grab the door handle, turn it, and walk in.

I always follow the lines as they create a shape and then I chase the colors wherever they take me…

As an outline appears, I start to color the sky lime green… Oh! —and pink brick walls around the house! Violet colored shutters will adorn the windows.

Now, I introduce even more layers of bright playful colors to enhance the texture and intrigue of every stroke of the pastel.

My process of creating always makes me feel alive, and I want you to feel that way too!

Color changes everything..

—Holly

This is my story:

“I was born in the winter of 1954, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. My first experience with art was watching my mother, Margaret, pencil draw while talking to her sisters on the phone every day. Everyone told my Mom that she should have been an artist, but instead, she was content to raise four girls and take care of Dad.

As I grew up, I fell in love with run-down old barns, cottages, and log buildings - all gray from aging. I thought they all had stories to tell and I could do that by coloring them back to life.

I attended UW-Green Bay and after graduation was offered the position of Deputy DIrector of The Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley in Appleton, WI. This job was rewarding, yet stressful and I found myself needing a break. I escaped to Door County for a day trip and I never wanted to leave. So many artists! It was here, in Door County that I realized I wanted to pursue my career in art.

I believe that being an artist is something one is born to do, not learned at school. I went on to study on my own, through practical experience, learning through trial and error. I eventually moved to Door County. As I continued to study and work, I sold my pastels from the Village Cafe in Egg Harbor. From there, I grew many friendships with local artists that helped influence my creativity and bold use of color. Meeting artists like Frannie Dickenson and Emmett Johns gave me confidence to continue developing my style. Other Door County artists that inspire me are Joseph Kaftan, Sandra Martinez, and Lynn Gilchrist. “