About the Artist
"Jennifer Holmes' career has now reached a new level. While she has won Connecticut awards for a decade, her new direction and years of working on her craft have brought more and more mention as being among one of the most prolific of New England plein air painters." — Amy Sidman, Argosy Gallery
"Plein Air painting is exciting to me because I love to be outside in the natural world. Like a good 'read,' you are so involved you are aware of nothing else. When you triumphantly close the book you are still full of the emotions and the mood. You are still there. Working to create that same sense of presence for the viewer is part of my challenge."
"The natural world we view for painting landscapes and seascapes incorporates color, space, and abstracted shapes, combined with composition, to create a mood and inherent excitement. Painting in the traditions of the outdoor painters of Old Lyme and Rockport, I paint on location as much as possible. Painting en plein air, or painting out of doors, allows me the chance to capture a bit o' the life in constantly changing moments."
Background
Ms. Holmes paints in Watercolors, Acrylics, Oils, and Pastels. After attending Rochester Institute of Technology and Hartford Art School — and finishing with a BFA in Graphic Design and a Minor in Marketing Management at Central Connecticut State University — she chose to pursue painting. While studying Pastel with Frank Federico and Claudia Post, she was encouraged to expand her efforts to include Drawing and Oil Painting with Bernard McTigue, and workshops with the Plein Air Painters of America.
Exhibitions & Memberships
Regularly showing at the Lyme Art Association, The Mystic Arts Center, and the Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society, Jennifer has earned Artist Member level in The Connecticut Academy of Fine Artists and the New Haven Paint and Clay Club, as well as Elected Artist at Lyme Art Association, Mystic Art Association, and The Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society. She holds membership in the American Society of Marine Artists.
Awards
Top Award: IDIOMAS, LLC, from Clinton Art Society · Award of Excellence: Mystic Elected Artist Show · Award of 2nd Place: Lyme Art Association Elected Artists Show. Other shows include The Connecticut Academy of Fine Art Show, Hudson Valley Art Association 76th Annual Show, The Springfield Academic Artists Show, and The Salmagundi Art Club 31st Non-Member Show in New York. Her painting Winter Marsh was accepted for exhibition in the Paint America "Paint the Parks" Top 100 Exhibit.
Gallery Representation
- Susan Powell Gallery — Connecticut
- Lily Pad Gallery — Rhode Island
- Grenning Gallery — New York
- Argosy Gallery — Maine