Fred Holle

Fred Holle (pronounced "Holly")

Artist’s Statement

I'm a figural artist of "Romantic" persuasion. I'm also a painter/printmaker who's aware that drawing is the genesis of all of my work. I constantly draw from models, partly for the great pleasure it affords but, primarily, to maintain perceptual sensitivity and to obtain fresh data to fill a mental reservoir of images that may be tapped, when needed, for my paintings and prints. I want to stress, however, that the use of this stored information is strictly a subconscious act as regards the works from my imagination. I have the greatest faith in intuition and the truth it generates.

My primary "vehicle" of expression over the years has been an ongoing Series of paintings and prints titled "GNOMEGAME". It's guiding concept relates to the revelation and personification of universal human attitudes ranging from foibles to the darker edges of human nature.

As a painter, my approach utilizes the freehand airbrush with acrylic paint which permits me to synthesize my drawing and painting into one act providing a direct conduit from subjective cognition to the picture plane.

As a printmaker, my principal MEANS of expression is the computer with the Wacom pad and pen.  I have found that, with the FREEHAND use of the computer, one could develop works of a traditional nature similar to those utilizing orthodox approaches to printmaking. The computer also afforded a great sense of experimental freedom due to its capacity to create multiple versions or return to earlier states of any given work. However, I believe that the operative word which assures the legitimacy of a digital print is "FREEHAND".

As a teacher, I consider drawing to be an indispensable discipline for visual artists of all persuasions. For this reason, I welcomed the opportunity to participate in the production of a series  of five CLASSICAL LIFE DRAWING videos,  each  covering a specific aspect of figure drawing.

They remain in production under the trademark, Artist-in-Residence® videos.

For  information/ order forms  go to: MY BLOG, VIDEO DESCRIPTIONS or fred@batnet.com

CV

Education

• Layton School of Art, Milwaukee, WI.
• Arizona State College, Tempe, AZ. 1950-1952

        (Served in USN Hospital Corps. 1952-1956)

• San Diego State College, San Diego, CA. 1956-1958, B.A.
• San Diego State College, San Diego, CA. 1958-1960, M.A.

Awards

• Lifelines,’93 5th annual National Drawing Competition, Mendocino, CA: 1993 (award) (Juror: Kenneth Baker, Art Critic, San Francisco Chronicle.)

• 2012 Delta National Small Print Exhibition, Bradbury Gallery, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Ark., (Juror's Merit Award), Juror: Roberta Waddell, Curator of Prints Emerita, The New York Public Library, New York, NY

                         ArtSlant Showcase Awards

        4th 2010 Showcase Winner in category Painting

        1st 2011 Showcase Winner in category Painting

        5th 2011 Showcase Winner in category Drawing

        3rd 2012 Showcase Winner in category Drawing

        4th 2012 Showcase Winner in category Painting

        5th 2012 Showcase Winner in category Painting

        6th 2012 Showcase Winner in category Drawing

       1st 2013 Showcase Winner in category Drawing

COMPETITIVE EXHIBITIONS 2005-2013 (PARTIAL LIST)

52nd International Exhibition, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA: 2013

28^th Annual "Made in California Juried Show", The city of Brea, CA Fine Arts Gallery: 2013 

Delta National Small Print Exhibition, Bradbury Gallery, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas: 2012 (Juror’s Merit Award) Juror: Roberta Waddell, Curator Emerita, The New York Public Library, New York, NY

Stones Throw LAPS Exchange Show, Robert Blackburn Print Workshop, New York, NY: 2011

The 2011 LAPS Membership Exhibition, City of Brea Art Gallery, Brea, CA

Art and Labor, Expressions Gallery, Berkeley, CA: 2010

Delta National Small Print Exhibition, Bradbury Gallery, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro,Arkansas: 2009-1010 Juror: David W. Kiehl, Chief Curator, Whitney Museum of Art, New York, NY

2009 Statewide Drawing & Print Competition and Exhibition, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA: 2009-2010

Bay Area Annual Juried Exhibition, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA: 2009 Juror: JoAnne Northrup, Chief Curator of the San Jose Museum of Art

Los Angeles Printmaking Society, 20th National Exhibition, Los Angeles Municipal Gallery, Los Angeles, CA: 2009 Juror: Peter Frank, Senior Curator, Riverside Museum, Riverside, CA

Ink & Clay 35, Kellogg University Art Gallery, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 2009

Boston Printmakers, North American Biennial, 808 Gallery, Boston University, Boston, MA: 2009

Los Angeles Printmaking Society, “Identity”, Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA: 2008-09

Los Angeles Printmaking Society, “Stones Throw”. LA Artcore Brewery Annex, Los Angeles, CA: 2008

Ink & Clay 34, Kellogg University Art Gallery, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 2008

Ink & Clay 33, Kellogg University Art Gallery, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 2007

Los Angeles Printmaking Society Exchange Exhibition, Belfast, Ireland: 2006

Brand Galleries National, “Conflict”, Glendale, CA: 2006

Ink & Clay 31, Kellogg University Art Gallery, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA: 2005