For years, I had known Marcia Holmes as a representational painter but in the last couple of years, I’ve seen her blossom into a full-blown abstract artist! I featured one of her newer pieces in my March 2017 round-up and have followed her career ever since.
I was curious to know about her path from realist to abstract expressionist so I asked her to write a blog and I’m delighted to tell you, she agreed!
To show you where she came from and where she is now, compare the two pastel paintings below. This will give you a taste of the journey she’s been on!
Before I hand you over to Marcia, here’s a brief bio:
Marcia Holmes Bio
Originally from Laurel, Mississippi, abstract expressionist Marcia Holmes lives in Mandeville, Louisiana. Formerly a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), she has attained Master Signature Status with the Pastel Society of America (PSA). Holmes, also an IAPS Master Circle pastel artist, has participated in juried exhibits around the globe including The Butler Institute of American Art (Youngstown, Ohio) and the Festival International du Pastel (Limoges, France). She has led pastel workshop groups in France. She is represented by Degas Gallery in New Orleans. You can see more of her work and learn more about Marcia on her website.
And now, here’s Marcia!!
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Early abstracts
I found I loved abstracts early in my painting career, as I dreamed the depiction of this painting and wrote a poem! It was a breakthrough moment, for this piece was awarded Honorable Mention in the 5th Annual Pastel Journal 100 Competition, April 2004 issue. At the same time, it was published locally in Inside Northside Magazine with the poetry in a Feature Article. What did I learn? Follow your dreams (i.e. poetry) and here I am now in 2018 with the recent publication of my poetry!!
The influence of painting en plein air as an element in growth to abstract expressionism
I was able to paint in Monet’s Garden’s for 5 days, with access in early mornings and evenings. The subject matter of water reflections and lilies are familiar to me from nature in Louisiana; which lead to a feeling of “home” and a comfortable painting style. At times, two fantastic artists painted with me: Terri Ford, Eminent IAPS status of California and Maria Marino, IAPS Master Circle and PSA board member from Maryland.
I painted this with total abandonment and the results were a surprise even to me!
The freedom in the opportunity of planning a Solo Exhibition
I was searching for an even looser rendition of the subject I am known for locally. Water’s Essence was the theme that I expounded upon, considering a color palette that would be liked in this region with new tendencies toward a high key and light value decorating trend of whites, grays, and neutrals. I am transitioning by abstracting a local landscape source, gleaning objects and ignoring local color.
I began using the Value Viewer App to print No Tans to assist in creating abstract art from photos of realistic subjects. This painting was juried into the PSA Enduring Brilliance 2015 show and received the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club Award. It was also juried into the IAPS Master’s Circle Exhibition in 2017.
Water reflections have always been my source of inspiration. For “Koi II,” I was visiting a garden center with a lovely bridge and pond full of koi. I was attracted to not only the swirling, swimming motion of the fish at play below but also the surrounding angel hair ferns and the light reflections bouncing upon the water. This led to the small series of paintings in pastels and oils.
“Koi II” is in a current exhibition with 10 other paintings of mine at St. Tammany Hospital Foundation’s Healing Arts Initiative Program through April 2018 in Covington, Louisiana, and will remain in their permanent collection. The program mission is to promote a sense of well-being and renewal to those who visit and work for the hospital and an avenue used to demonstrate the foundation’s commitment to the healing of patients, families and employees. I was happy to be among the first group of artists to be selected to introduce this program a few years ago and donated art to enhance the new 3North Wing of the hospital.
My new direction into Abstract Expressionist painting truly began with this painting. In 2015 I was encouraged to study with Steven Aimone of Aimone Art Services in Maine. In anticipation of this experience, I purchased his book Expressive Drawing – A Practical Guide to Freeing the Artist Within. I wanted to do my “homework” so I would be fresh and ready for the idea of “automated painting”! Obviously, I was yearning to paint and learn, as I had just returned from the IAPS Convention where I took a brief course from abstract artist and author Debora Stewart (Abstract Art Painting: Expressions in Mixed Media).
My process with this painting was to take a realistic subject that inspired me, but only use one small section of the source to make an abstract painting. The subject was the shadow of Wisteria vines on an exterior wall of the Dallas Museum of art. It was subsequently published in Art Journey Abstract Painting: A Celebration of Contemporary Art edited by Jamie Markle (F & W Media). It was also exhibited in France at the Salon International de Pastel in Giverny, Summer 2017. It received an honourable mention in the Abstract category of the 2015 Pastel Journal‘s 100 Competition.
Abstracting the landscape, moving from realism to abstraction
Some tips:
– Eliminate items in your reference
– Strive for looseness
– Allow some identifiable elements (my choice)
– Pre-select a limited palette of pastels for a look
– Listen to your audience of collectors
– Use technology with the Value Viewer app to create a “No Tan” allowing the artist to undo local color
Summing it up!! Back to total freedom & freeing the artist within
The year of 2016 and 2017 resonates with abstraction! I found many elements have come together and lead me to the freedom I feel with abstract painting. Not in any particular order, for me these elements are:
– The freedom of planning Solo Exhibitions, including large-scale works
– The looseness and quickness of painting en plein air along with inspiration from nature, travel, & France
– Continuation of art study on a Master’s residency level with my contemporary peers in Abstract Expressionism
– Personally giving myself “permission” to paint what I feel, love, and am inspired by; thus, moving from realism to abstract impressionism and pure abstract expressionism using the techniques I’ve accumulated, combined and pursued all at once!
– Pursuing my own developmental career goals in publishing my paintings and poetry in an art catalog
– Enhancing my own education by sharing my ideas and teaching others which strengthens my knowledge of my art process
– The use of rhythm, movement and automated strokes
Here you can see how I interpret from a realistic reference to abstraction on my own terms; the use of expressive line work and painting outside with line.
The element of total freedom of abstract expression in multimedia underpainting techniques and automated linework, as well as pursuing a vision from poetry in expressing a narrative and publishing all the results.
The elements of looseness and quickness in en plein air painting, travel, the influence of nature, the access to “video” and technology of the iPad and iPhone to capture a moment in time for reference of not only the subject but the feeling of wind and rain in Giverny. Also, the element of translating my narrative in Poetry and the publication of the same.
Full Circle
I will be an instructor at the IAPS Convention in Albuquerque, NM, 2019. The final schedule will be announced in Summer 2018.
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Thank you Marcia!! I can feel your passion for what you do coming through in your words. And congratulations on being chosen to be an instructor at the 2019 IAPS convention!
Marcia and I would LOVE to hear your comments about her blog and work so I encourage you to leave a comment. Also feel free to ask Marcia Holmes any questions you may have.
Until next time
~ Gail
31 thoughts on “Marcia Holmes – From Realist To Abstract Expressionist”
Thanks for your detailed post Marcia. I really enjoyed it.
So glad you enjoyed it Karen!
So inspiring!!! I am going to purchase the book mentioned above;Expressive Drawing-A Practical Guide to Freeing the Artist Within. I think that will help me, I’m hitting a place where I think I could really use this. So look forward to these posts, thank you Gail!
Kelly, it’s a fabulous book and I highly recommend it! (You can link directly to the book on Amazon in the blog post.) So glad you enjoy all the posts – I love hearing that!!
All your articles and information are precious gifts. Thank you for your generosity and sharing so much creativity and inspiration.
Marcia’s paintings are magnificent.
And I am responding also because I am very drawn to your art work.
Suzanne thank you so very much for your kind words. It makes all the effort soooooo worthwhile!
And I am glad to hear what you think of Marcia’s work – it is stunning, isn’t it?
Marcia’s work is outstanding! I enjoyed seeing how she uses value and line in her compositions. Thank you for sharing her blog!
Karen I’m with you on that! And yes – Marcia’s use of line and marks is so instructive! So much seems intuitive, doesn’t it?
Thanks Gail and thankyou Marcia. It’s wonderful to read of inspiration and motivation to push us all forwards on our journey of discovery.
Good to hear from you Lyn! Yes there’s so much out there to inspire us on our own personal artistic journeys and Marcia’s work certainly does that!
Awesome. Her work reminds me of Joan Mitchell and the pond at Giverny.
Thank you for bringing this to us.
Warmly
Nancy Malard
Love that there is a reminder of Joan Mitchell’s work in Marcia’s for you Nancy. Here’s a link to a blog on my GailSibley website that I put together about her work some time ago.
Nancy – that’s exactly what I thought – Joan Mitchell – whom I also adore.
Thank-you for so much Gail for featuring Marcia Holmes on you blog. Truly exciting to see the creative transformation in an artist and to read about her journey is inspiring. I gives me the courage to step outside my own box and make my own artistic path..
Hi Mark, so good to hear how you have been inspired. It was my hope that reading about Marcia’s journey and seeing her work would motivate many to step out of their comfort zones and listen to that inner voice that wants out! So jump on that journey!
I can just look and look and look at Marcia’s paintings. So interesting and beautiful. I have to say….I don’t understand abstract art many times, and wouldn’t know how to approach it myself, but seeing the works of a master abstract artist is awesome and complex. Thanks for featuring Marcia’s work.
Ruth even though you may not be moved towards creating in an abstract way yourself, it’s wonderful that you can appreciate the work of those who do. And Marcia’s work certainly is amazing. Keep looking and enjoying!!
Thank you Gail and Marcia,
I am “pumped” to begin my day in the studio thanks to you both. As a realist pastel painter traveling in a more abstract direction, this could not have been more timely! Marcia, maybe I will be one of your students at IAPS in 2019!
Alright!! Glad Marcia’s work struck the right chord with you Karole. Look forward to seeing you at IAPS! I may see you in class 😀
A wonderful post! I too need a reference point before I can attempt to abstract the subject. I’m still experimenting. I also love the poetry/painting connection. I’m also curious about the large size paper. I will try contacting Marcia directly.
Glad you enjoyed the blog post Irene. It’s interesting how some artists’ abstract reality and some dive in without a reference point and paint non-objectively. I love seeing how Marcia changes the look of nature into her own voice.
As to your curiosity about large sized paper, I believe Marcia uses UART paper cut from rolls. Please do go ahead and contact her. I am sure she will have answers for you 🙂
Thank you Gail and Marcia! This was a fascinating post! I love Marcia’s work and this was very inspirational!
So glad to hear you enjoyed hearing about Marcia’s journey Karen!
My heart is bursting with joy – I have been tap dancing between abstraction and representation for 40 years, with increasing abstraction over the past few years. Water is also a major source of my artwork and Monet was an early hero. But quickly, I was taken away by Joan Mitchell – who was also an abstract painter and poet, like Marcia. I see a strong connection in the abstract language between Marcia and Joan. I am going to be at that convention, if it’s the last thing I do. I can count the number of workshops I’ve been to on one hand – but Marcia’s work goes straight to the jugular for me and I HAVE to go.
Ahhhh Denise, my heart is bursting after reading your over-the-top enthusiastic response to Marcia’s post!! Thank you!! Love that you too made the Joan Mitchell connection. As you say, lots of overlap in their language.
I’ll see you at IAPS then!
Gail – who puts out the Value Viewer app, I have looked and can’t find it at Apple. Love Marcia’s work and would like to try the no tans. Thanks
Hi Grace, I don’t know and when I searched for it I couldn’t find it either so I’ll let Marcia answer your question!
Gail. I really enjoyed reading Marcia Holmes blog on abstract painting and seeing her work. There is a lot to learn. I don’t quite understand the “no tan” that she refers to and it would be great to know how to get the app.
I am glad I found your blog. It is always informative and helpful as I am a beginner using pastel as a medium.
Thank you for sharing so much.
Dolores delighted you enjoyed Marcia’s blog. I am hoping Marcia will answer the questions about the App she is using.
About Notans – originally a Japanese concept, the idea behind them is to simplify everything in your piece to black and white. This is where doing a four-value sketch (rather than the three I recommend) can be useful. Create a new sketch and then take the two darker values and make them black, and take the two lighter values and make them white and see what the pattern looks like. Don’t mistake doing notans for doing thumbnail sketches in three or four values. Notans are always black and white only. Here’s a good book about them. Not sure if that made Notans any clearer or just added to your confusion – let me know!
Loved this article by Marsha Holmes. It clarified some of the process ideas I arrived at in studying her work. I really like the process of line, choosing the colors, taking just a part of a reference photo that interests you and having some recognizable features/items in the painting, as in “Fig Leaves Fall in Tuscany”, my favorite painting by Marsha!
I also understood the use of Notan better and the fact that it removes local color, which helps conceptualize one’s vision.
I also love “Sunny Side Rose”, the rose in abstract line over the abstracton. The poem, “My Winter’s Rose” so aptly captured how I feel about my solitude at times. I get this totally.
Marsha was very generous with process information and paintings and I now feel better prepared to watch her demo for Pastel Society of Mississippi and the newly formed Pastel Society of South Mississippi, in Hattiesburg this month. I shared this article with our newly formed society.
Thanks Marsha and Gail
Nettie Kennedy
Wonderful to hear from you Nettie and appreciated your detailed response to Marcia’s article. A lovely way to prepare before seeing Marci demo!