Jennifer Holmes
“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
Ms Holmes has studied drawing and oil painting with Bernard McTigue, Michael Graves, John Traynor, Diane Aeschliman, Camille Przewodek, Mark Boedges, Pastel painting with Frank Federico. Having participated in Plein Air Painters of America Workshops offered (in conjunction with the Scotsdale Artist’s School), Jennifer found much inspiration working with instructors Ken Backhaus, Ron Rencher, Joseph Mendez and Ralph Oberg. She says although she holds a degree in graphic design, (R.I.T /CCSU) she’s always been with brush tightly in hand. Her desire to paint, strength of purpose and focus, has enabled her to paint full time. Essentially a plein air painter, she derives her creative Inspiration from the natural world, expressing in landscape, seascape, still life, and figure painting. She admits painting is a lifelong love for her, and happily calls it her career as well. Her vision is from the past to future for a very exciting time for artists and their works. as there’s much positive energy from the artists and public alike.
“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. Sharing it with others makes it a joyous enterprise! Plein air painting is exciting to me because I love to be outside in the natural world. It’s like a good “read”, so focused, to find at the finish of the “book”, you’re still full of the emotions and the mood; you’re still there. Working to create that same sense of presence for the viewer of my painting, is my challenge and intent.” ~ Jennifer
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.”
Ms. Holmes paints in Watercolors, Acrylics, Oils, and Pastels. After attending Rochester Institute of Technology, 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.
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 North Shore Art Association, Rockport Art Association, Lyme Art Association, Mystic Art Association, and The Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society. She holds membership in the American Society of Marine Artists.
Ms. Holmes’ gallery representation includes: Argosy Gallery, ME. Petrini Art and Framing, CT
