Farrell first began to paint in 1990 when she was 29. She had been looking for a way to relieve stess
resulting from her day job, working with children who had special needs. Painting
seemed an obvious choice as it was something she had always enjoyed when she was younger.

Initially Farrell's paintings were very much a part of the Folk Art tradition - expressive
and painted on canvas in a naive or primitive style. As much as Farrell enjoyed
working within the Folk Art framework, she felt she lacked skill
and wanted to learn. She began to draw things from her apartment - the day-to-day
things that were part of her everyday life (vintage chairs, antique bowls, vintage teacups,
old cookbooks) and set them up against a wall or on a surface.

After completing many studies - drawing and painting them - perhaps because
of Farrell's relationship to them, or with the people who gave them to her, the subjects began
to take on a life of their own - they were no longer inanimate to her. Farrell began to see
her painting as a combination of Still Life and Portraiture, re-connecting her to the time,
people or places that were relevent to each subject.

"I like the wear and tear of a piece - cracks, crazing, peeling. I like that
something that had once been a part of someone else's day to day existence is
now part of mine."

Holly Farrell 2010

View an interview with Holly Farrell

ARTISTS

Artists may submit images, resume, and other material to anne@ziagallery.net.  Hard copies of images on CD, or other medium can be submitted to the address listed in the contact section. Please enclose a self addressed stamped envelope for returning any hard submissions.  Submissions that do not include a SASE will not be returned.