Calgary Art Margaret Holland - Artists Interpretations Group

Art Talk

Home

Biography of Margaret Marie Holland

Canadian Artist Margaret Holland

Painting provides Margaret a visual means of communicating her passion for life. She is inspired by the vitality of the world around her and enjoys the challenges of capturing a mood, or depicting the interplay between light and shadow through the use of varying tones of colour.

The contrast of light and shadow on such varying textures as wood, stone, or fur is what often initially attracts Margaret's artistic eye. She then captures, on paper or canvas, the moods and emotions evoked at that particular moment.

While her subjects can range from animals to buildings to landscapes to portraits, her choice of media is usually either water ("because you never know what you're going to get--like a box of chocolates") or pastels ("because it has a velvet texture that just feels good").

Margaret, born and raised in Calgary, Alberta has seriously pursued her chosen avenue of self-expression over the past ten years by exploring alternative media and refining her repertoire of techniques through studies with international artists. Exhibitions and competitions are viewed as opportunities to critically examine her work within the context of the broader artistic community and to more fully appreciate the work of her peers.

ARTISTS STATEMENT

Being an artist has provided an opportunity for my ever-evolving artist's eye to capture a moment on paper, to share an emotion, to awaken long forgotten memories, or to recreate a mood through the use of light and shadow from my color palette.

Through my journey of life, I have come to realize what's important. It's the little things, like taking a moment to pause and reflect - to restore tranquility to the mind; to stop and listen to the wind in the trees while the birds perch on the branches - for the delight of the ears; or to gaze upon a beautiful sunset - for the refreshment of the eyes. Each of these senses evoke emotion and memories close to us all and through the medium of painting, my desire is to provide that moment.

The influence of intense, bold, dynamic colors trigger within, a myriad of vivid emotions and cherished memories. My objective is to use color to create a space in which the viewer can re-create a life experience through each painting.

My current choice of media is watercolor or pastel. Although they are both very different, they have their own characteristics, and effectively translate my energy and enthusiasm for life.

Watercolor, for instance, allows me to reflect the fluidity and dynamics of color. Although I am not focused on one subject matter, I do tend to lean towards the 'Western' theme as I love textures, such as wood, rocks, horses, and leather to name a few. Watercolor can produce beautiful sepia tones to suggest a glimpse into the past.

Pastel, on the other hand, has a velvet texture that blends harmoniously to create the softness of skin, the shine of an animal's coat, or the roughness of bark peeling off a tree. The versatility of pastel is remarkable because you can interact with it through your fingers or use strokes to create a mood or texture.

Hopefully, my legacy and the personal history I am now creating will provide future generations in my family with an illustrated "biography" of some of the "little things" that are important to me.

Generalife Gardens, Granada -Spain - By Alberta Artist Margaret Holland

EXHIBITIONS

1994 - 2003 Art Lessons Unlimited, Semi Annual Shows

1994 Cochrane Summer Fair

1997 - 1998 Heritage Park Fall Fair

1999 Kalidescope Art Association Shows

1999 - 2003 Calgary Sketch Club Shows

1999 - 2004 Calgary Stampede & Exhibition

2002 - 2004 Interpretations Artists' Association Shows

2002 - 2004 Rose Hip Gallery

2002 Rockyview General Hospital Art Show and Sale

2002 - 2004 Rose Hip Gallery

2002 - 2004 Interpretations Artists' Association Shows

AWARDS

1997 & 1998 4th Place for Watercolor division (Heritage Park)

1999 2nd Place for Watercolor division (Calgary Exhibition)

2000 1st Place for Show (Brush Strokes)

2001 1st Place for Watercolor division (Calgary Exhibition), and 5th Place for Section (Calgary Exhibition)

2002 2nd Place in Master's division (Calgary Exhibition)

2004 1st Place in Watercolor division (Calgary Exhibition), and 1st Place in Section and Medallion (Calgary Exhibition)

2005 2nd Place in Master's division (Calgary Exhibition)

ART STUDIES

1992-1994 Calgary - Applied Ceramic techniques, Village Ceramics

1994 Calgary - watercolour study under artist and instructor, Natalie Daignault

1994 - present Calgary - studying under artist and instructor, Nancy-lynne Hughes

1996 Paris, France - watercolour study under Dutch artist and instructor Kees de Voogd

1998 Pincher Creek, AB - outdoor watercolour study under artist and instructor, Nancy-lynne Hughes

2000 Red Deer College, Alberta - pastel study under artist and instructor, Susan Wolgar.

2002 Madrid, Spain - watercolour study under international artist and instructor, Tom Lynch

2003 Calgary - figure drawing study under artist and instructor, Doug Swinton

2005 Calgary - perspective study under artist and instructor, Nancy-lynne Hughes

ART MEMBERSHIPS

Calgary Sketch Club Association

Interpretations Artists' Association

BUSINESS COURSES/MARKETING ACTIVITIES

1998 "So You Want to be a Critic"

1998 "The Business of Being an Artist"

2002 "Colour Theory"

Selling my work since 1995 to both private and commercial collectors. Commissioned pieces since 1994.

Extinction, Unity, Saskatchewan - By Alberta Artist Margaret Holland

Banana Tree, Tai Ping, China - By Alberta Artist Margaret Holland

Kananaskis Aspens - By Alberta Artist Margaret Holland

Walking the River Front, San Antonio, Texas - By Alberta Artist Margaret Holland

Click on a picture for a larger image and ordering information

Artistic Tributes
Calgary, Alberta
Phone: (403) 517-6574 or (403) 249-0428
Fax: (403) 266-4495

E-mail: faerie@shaw.ca

Return to Art In Canada´s Homepage Gallery

Home About - Members - Gallery - Marketing - Directory - Contact Us - Art Talk