Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Beals.
Holly, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Childhood memories flood my mind when considering how that genuine love and passion for fine art first began. I remember numerous drawing sessions on the living room floor with my dad. My mom, pulling out that large roll of butcher paper and letting me go to town on those cold winter days in Bend, Oregon. Then that year, I received a set of Prismacolor pencils from my aunt and uncle, all those colors and possibilities rocked my little artistic world! So many family members and friends noticed a creative spark early on and lovingly nudged me along the artistic journey I still find myself on today.
Fast forward to college. A phone conversation with a cousin I look up to, a successful graphic designer, helped me decide what creative path to pursue. After graduating from Chico State with a BA in communications, I worked as a graphic designer at various jobs for six years. But new adventures were calling and I was blessed with the opportunity to teach conversational English to college students in Tibet. What a wild and beautiful ride that was, full of ups and downs.
One day, in my tiny teacher’s apartment, I grabbed some scrap paper, acrylic paint and magazine clippings. In the midst of a really rough day, painting was so satisfying and the perfect soul therapy. So began my love for mixed media painting. To this day, that piece hangs in my studio with the phrase ‘Here and Now’, collaged onto it, reminding me to be thankful and present in this moment God has gifted. Textured paper, collage elements and layers of acrylic paint continue to appear in the mix of my paintings.
Just days after that pivotal painting was created in my tiny Tibet apartment, I met my husband, David. It’s because of his love and support over these past eight years that I’ve been able to continue painting. Together we have two beautiful boys, going on ages three and five. I’m thankful for any amount of time I get to spend painting in the studio, but I also love chasing after those two energetic little guys.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A strong creative drive is such a beautiful thing. However, it’s taken a long time for me to really find my creative voice and own it. The struggle has always been prioritizing my time and making space to develop a consistent creative practice. This requires taking yourself and your passion seriously enough to invest that extra time and energy required. In those moments when I’m tempted to come up with excuses for why I don’t have enough time to get into the studio and paint, I try to remind myself that in every season of life there’ll be all kinds of things vying for my time and attention.
There isn’t a road map or formula for how artists arrive at that sweet spot of truly enjoying the creative process and connecting what they have to offer with the right audience. Learning everything I can about running a creative business and establishing a creative practice from other successful artists has been invaluable. I’ve learned so much from some talented individuals who are generous with their time and knowledge. Take it all in, however you can! While painting, I’m usually listening to some combination of creative business podcasts and music.
When you find yourself searching for your own creative voice, keep your head down and put in the time. You’re worth it. Your craft is worth it. And your beautifully unique voice is one that the world will benefit from. It’s not a bad thing to look around and see what other artists are doing, to an extent. But don’t get caught up in the comparison game, nothing good can come from it! Give yourself the time, space and grace to create the kind of work you’re deeply proud of.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I create mixed media figure paintings, primarily displaying and selling my work at local shows and venues. Acrylics and textured paper on wood panel are my media of choice. It’s my belief that, whether making it or taking it in, art can add rich value to our space, while transporting us to another place. I love exploring ways to capture the essence, mood or emotion of a person or moment. When someone makes a genuine connection with a piece I’ve created and wants to have it in their own home or space, there’s so much joy and fulfillment in that. With combined focuses on strategic collage, color, shadow and texture, my style of figure painting is something very unique. More recently, I’ve had the opportunity to work on some commissions and find that each one is a new opportunity to push myself further creatively.
Some other fun ways I’ve been able to interact with collectors and art appreciators are through live painting at wineries and farmers’ markets, teaching mixed media workshops, participating in Open Studios Art Tour and working alongside other amazing artists at Open Canvas Gallery. In April, I’m excited to participate in one of the largest juried shows I’ve been a part of, Mission Federal ArtWalk in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood on April 25th & 26th.
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
Some of the podcasts I’ve really been enjoying are Do It For The Process, by Emily Jeffords, Don’t Keep Your Day Job, by Cathy Heller, The Goal Digger Podcast, by Jenna Kutcher, and Courageous Parenting, by Isaac & Angie Toplin. Also, last year I joined an artist membership with oil painter, Katrina Berg. She’s an amazing mentor! I’ve been learning so much from her and the other talented artist members.
Contact Info:
- Website: hollybeals.com
- Phone: 805-458-7144
- Email: holly@hollybeals.com
- Instagram: @hollybeals
- Facebook: @artisthollybeals
Image Credit:
Rachel Cementina, Kit Gould, Kerry Long, Holly Beals
Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
