Today we’d like to introduce you to Holli Michener.
Hi Holli, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Art has always been an integral part of my life. I have fond memories of my childhood spent drawing and painting with my mom and older sisters. My dad even assisted me with large sculpture projects. Creativity runs in my family, and I have always received support for my artistic interests. As I grew up, I knew that I wanted to pursue art on a more serious level and make it a central part of my life.
After completing my college studies, I moved to New York to gain an internship at the Ellen Frank Illumination Arts Foundation in East Hampton. During a three-month internship, I worked alongside other interns under the guidance of Ellen Frank on some of the first paintings in the Cities of Peace series.
In 2007, I returned to my hometown in Texas to pursue my passion for art and have since showcased my work in various exhibitions in the DFW area, including with groups such as Arthash, Art Hunger, and ArtLoveMagic. I tested the waters in outdoor festivals with ArtsGoggle in 2017. The next year, I was thrilled to have been selected by Ron English to participate in the Surreal Salon 10 group show at Baton Rouge Gallery, which has been one of my most notable achievements so far.
In 2019, I decided to take the leap into a full-time art career and currently work out of my home studio in Carrollton, Texas.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No. Not smooth at all. Pursuing my goals is proving to be a challenging and unstable path. Rejections, dead ends, and uncertainties are common, and I often find myself having to refocus my efforts. At times, it can feel like I’m starting from scratch.
The biggest obstacle so far was choosing to step out on my own right before the pandemic hit. I was ramping things up, and then it all fell apart.
I am fortunate to have the support of my husband and family, which is more than most. I keep working hard at my passion, even when it gets challenging, because I know it’s worth it. At the end of the day, it’s what makes me happy. I would rather struggle with art criticism or a painting composition than crunch numbers or generate sales for a corporation. There’s nothing more thrilling than when a painting finally starts to come together. It’s like the stars align, and the choir sings. Okay, maybe not that epic, but there’s definitely something magical about it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a surrealist artist whose work explores the perception of being an outsider while maintaining the courage to not care. Through my use of bright colors and collaged creatures, I aim to inspire you to celebrate the beauty of being peculiar. I delve into my personal experiences of being misunderstood and aim to provide viewers with the ability to explore themselves as well. Our world is filled with confusing ideas and stereotypes that only become real when we accept them. I strive to remain open to the complexities of life and avoid putting things into boxes. My ultimate goal is to express these concepts whimsically and weirdly, which reflects my personality.
My primary medium is oil paint, but I also sometimes incorporate acrylic and spray paint within the underpainting stages. To create luminous colors and glass-like texture, I use glazing and scumbling techniques. As a result of this layering process, I prefer to use drying media such as Liquin Fine Detail and Gamsol. Everything is hand-drawn on canvas and painted with brushes, resulting in a vivid work of art.
I draw inspiration from contemporary artists such as Casey Weldon, Jim McKenzie, Dorielle Cami, and Hannah Yata.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
For my mentality, I enjoy a good comedy podcast. Lately, I’ve been listening to The Dollop as well as most podcasts on the Exactly Right Network.
I am also a huge fan of Critical Role. I will often have episodes playing while working.
If you need a good art reference tool for animals, https://x6ud.github.io/#/ is great. You can choose the animal you need a reference for and
then position the skull in the manner you want and the tool will then search for the most relevant images online.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hollimichener.com/shop
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_art_flirt
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/hollimichener
