Featured Artist Holli May Thomas

Artist Holli May Thomas creates mixed media assemblages filled with color and energy. Enjoy her portfolio and visit her website to see more.

 

 

A found tube of red drugstore lipstick is to be blamed.

 

 

As a child, my grandmother would watch over us while mom was working. My curiosity is frequently a steel trap that I am unable to shut. I dug around the grand matriarch’s buried treasure drawer of mysterious cosmetics. It was wonderful to feel the smooth and creamy shades of pinks and reds between my fingers and her pristine white bathroom was an empty canvas begging to be finger painted.

 

 

My frequent inquisitiveness exasperated my mom and I was placed in art classes at an early age.

 

 

Later in life, I remember seeing LeRoy Neiman’s work and examining his brush strokes. I loved his energetic use of color in his pieces about basketball players and runners. I knew at that moment the painting style that I was being taught wasn’t the direction my compass should be leading me. And I wanted to recreate that same energy using my own style that was continuing to evolve.

 

 

Throughout the years I taught reading and writing at the high school level. Journal entry after journal entry of inspirational stories crossed my desk about students overcoming tremendous odds. I am an optimist by nature and the victory of the human spirit on paper continued to keep my glass half full and provided visuals for future storytelling on canvas.

 

 

Reading and writing have always served as dense fertilizer for my imagination. I am attracted to the same themes that capture my favorite author’s attention—exploration, personal strength and positive energy. Other sources of inspiration arrive from participating in simple activities that bring me down the path of joy such as biking, swimming, dancing and listening to music.

 

 

As a child I always had rocks or some other doodad in my pocket that I had found; so, no surprise that as an adult I developed a passion for incorporating funky found objects into my pieces.

 

 

Vintage papers, gears, upcycled electronic components and hardware make me swoon. I enjoy incorporating those little bits of magic into my paintings.

 

 

My current process begins with multi-layered abstract backgrounds using mediums and papers. I manipulate layers of paint to create flow and vitality through color. Dipping the end of my paintbrush into a bold palette and presenting an optimistic view of the future is where I feel at home.

 

 

My current work reflects strong women who are involved in a bit of soul searching. I am ecstatic to see where my next adventure in paint meets my horizon on canvas.

 

Artist Holli May Thomas invites you to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Want to stay current on cutting edge business articles from Artsy Shark, plus artist features, and an invitation to the next Call for Artists? Subscribe to our twice-monthly Updates, and get a free e-book on Where to Sell Art Online right now!