The Creative Life and Art
Welcome! My name is Julie Dyer Holmes. I’m glad to meet you and to share my painting story. A bit of a late bloomer here. Here’s more on the creative life I live and the artwork I create.
Work and Walk
So everyday I get to work, that is, draw and paint. The second thing I do is walk. Wait! Usually, it’s the reverse order. Stumble out of bed and get the dog out for a walk.
Something about walking outdoors helps me revitalize and refresh my point of view. It helps that I have a friendly, four-legged rescue dog and a wonderful spouse to join me on these daily walks.
During these walks, I am searching. Some days I find joy, gentleness and hopefully a little patience, too. My goal is to communicate these feelings with each painting and drawing that I make.
Painting in a Pandemic and Post Pandemic Era
The pandemic directly influenced my work in several ways. First, I had expected to be a figurative painter. But as the pandemic evolved, I shifted my point of view. I looked at what I could paint at home, right outside my window and in the neighborhood.
Second, I took an online course that introduced me to a new, yet very old, medium: gouache. Each of these changes require that I look closer to home for inspiration and try new ideas.
Like what? Like our tiny hall bathroom and our kitchen pantry. And, the trees in our backyard. I continue to work in both gouache and oils these days.
Lastly, the pandemic and family loss has nudged us to ramp up two activities: camping and kayaking. Throughout 2021, 2022 and 2023 I paint outdoors on a long camping trip to visit family and friends in the northeast and Canada. I love creating work that’s fresh and new. So my paint brush carries on in 2023.
If you are interested in seeing work as I complete it, consider subscribing to my weekly blog. I promise to add some color and inspiration to your inbox on a weekly basis!
Paintings For Sale
If you are interested in looking at works of art for sale, please visit the online painting gallery. If you see a painting that interests you, select the image and purchase by clicking on the link associated with the painting. Many are sold and indicated as such.
So if the painting you see and enjoy is already sold, have no fear! I paint and draw everyday and also publish a new painting each week.
I am grateful for you taking the time to read here today. Follow my blog to learn more. If you have questions, please connect with me via the contact page or the comments section of my blog.
Exhibitions and Sales
2024 Forest Commons Spring Art Show, Brown House Gallery Raleigh, NC
2024 Bara Bara Community Art Exhibition, Diamante Arts & Culture Center Raleigh, NC
2023 Forest Commons Studio Sale November 2023 Raleigh, NC
2023 NOFO@THE PIG Cafe Gallery Raleigh, NC
2022 Stokes County Arts Council Show Danbury, NC
2021 Popup Sale Golden Belt Artists Durham, NC
2020 Online Studio Holiday Sale Raleigh, NC
2019 Studio Incamminati Annual Show Avery Gallery Bryn Mawr, PA
2018 Studio Incamminati Annual Show Freeman’s Philadelphia, PA
2018 Studio Incamminati Senior Exhibition Philadelphia, PA
2017 Studio Incamminati Annual Show Freeman’s Philadelphia, PA
2016 Studio Incamminati Annual Show Freeman’s Philadelphia, PA
2015 Studio Incamminati Annual Show Freeman’s Philadelphia, PA
Education
2014-2018 Studio Incamminati Philadelphia, PA
Teaching
2019 Private lessons
2018 – 2019 Taught drawing to formerly homeless students at Studio Incamminati Philadelphia, PA