“Chiaroscuro: From Light to Dark,” an exhibit of paintings by Martin Holland, will open in the Performing Arts Studio Gallery on Sunday, February 3, and continue through March 30.  A reception for the artist will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 February 3 in the Norman Depot, 200 South Jones Avenue.  Refreshments will be served.  There is no charge to visit the exhibition. 

Painting by Martin Holland

“I have always had an interest in paintings, but never imagined I would paint.” says Holland. “About four years ago I called [sister] Bets and asked: ‘How do you oil paint?’  She laughed and told me get a brush, canvas and some paint – then start.  That’s what I did.”

Holland has not had formal training, other than attending a number of group sessions under Carol Armstrong at the Firehouse Art Center. His painting education has come from books and from looking at thousands of paintings in magazines, galleries and art museums in the cities he visits on business.

His painting style is contemporary realism – still lifes, people, landscapes, animals.  His goal is to “create paintings that appear real, without resorting to a trompe l’oeil or photo-realistic style.”  His method is to  ask himself “Why do I like this painting, and not that one?” and then “How did he (or she) do that?”  Learning has required a lot of trial-and-error and a great deal of patience on the part of his wife Diane, Holland confides.  “The result has been a lot of bad paintings and some good ones.”  

“The cave paintings at Lascaux and Chauvet, France are fascinating to Holland.  “They are 13,000 and 32,000 years old and are as beautiful as any paintings done since.  They are evidence of a human predisposition toward art.” he believes. “ It is very gratifying to paint, probably because it scratches some genetic itch. It is more gratifying when people see and like my paintings.  It is most gratifying when people like them enough to buy them.  Regardless, I love to paint.”

Artistic talent runs in his family Holland says.  His sisters, Bets Holland Lundeen and Kit Petersen, and his daughter, Lara, all have artistic talent.  “Bets has a national reputation as a sculptor and painter, and Kit has painted for years.  Lara is near completion of a degree in Interior Design at Colorado State University.”

A native of Norman, Holland went to college at Hastings College in Nebraska and to graduate school here at OU.  For the past 22 years, he has worked with emerging companies helping them develop from concept to reality.  He is currently the CEO of Floran Technologies, Inc., a company formed to develop patented technology introduced to the US from Germany.

For additional information about PAS programs, contact The Performing Arts Studio at 405-307-9320.   PAS office hours in the Norman Depot are Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00.

Gallery exhibitions at the Performing Arts Studio are made possible in part by grants from the Norman Arts Council, Oklahoma Arts Council and The National Endowment for the Arts.