Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Studio Sale extended though January 2!

I have decided to extend my studio sale until January 2. I am working on large commissions and need to clear out some older originals and studies at a great price! Just go to www.justinholdren.com and click on the "paintings" link to see the sale portfolio. You can purchase direct through the website with FREE SHIPPING or by calling me at 336-684-3875 to pay over the phone. I will be adding some new items weekly, including some rare drawings and watercolors of mine that I usually don't show. Don't miss out!

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Christmas Studio Sale, Limted Time!



 "West Jefferson in November" 8 x 10 Oil on SALE

Hello friends! I haven't posted here in awhile, because I am mostly posting to Facebook, but here is some new about a sale I am having at www.justinholdren.com .

I am having a Christmas Studio sale from now until December 10. This will include older original gallery works, miniature originals, original studies and sketches, as well as a few prints. Just click on the "Paintings" link to see the sale album. I will be updating the sale portfolio often so keep checking back! You can use the paypal buttons or the "contact the artist" link under each image's description. You can also email me or text me your phone number at 336-684-3875 and I will call you if you wish to pay with your credit card over the phone or mail a check.
Most items are one of a kind, so when they are sold, they are gone! If you purchase an item that has just sold and it is not marked yet, I will gladly refund your money or apply it to another item that is available. Please remember that items on your screen may differ slightly in color to due your monitor settings.
Don't forget to keep checking back as I will be adding more items daily. Have fun!

Thursday, September 19, 2013

First Post in a Long Time!

 I can't believe it has been since July that I posted to the blog here. I have been painting, just not posting much due to the demands of our family schedules! It has settled down some, so I hope to be posting more often now. Remember you can view my Facebook posts at www.facebook.com/justinholdrenfineart .
Here is a rough sketch for a commission that I am working on. This is for a buyer in New Jersey. This historic church was destroyed in Hurricane Sandy, so I count it an honor to be able to do this commission to remember this beautiful church. Be back soon with some in progress shots and information on a possible new dealer where you can purchase my small works!

Rough Sketch for Church Commission Painting

Friday, July 19, 2013

Some Ebay fun

Well,

As I prepare some paintings for an upcoming exhibit, I look around my studio and see many little"studies" I have completed over the past year. I often do paintings in a small format to work out the composition before I tackle a larger canvas. Some of these get framed up to sell in a gallery or on the website, but I often auction my small works on Ebay at an affordable opening bid.

I know some artists frown on Ebay, but these small studies have found their way into private collections across the country, and they are a great way for people to "sample" my work. My Ebay studies are the appetizer, not the main course like my larger paintings.

Some of my small Ebay sales have also resulted in a relationship with a few collectors that have since bought several commissions, making it worthwhile for me to list there. I will be listing small studies at affordable opening bids regularly, so click the link below to visit my Ebay profile page, then click on my auctions to see what's currently available, then check back regularly. Happy bidding!

Got to http://myworld.ebay.com/justih to see my page.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Some Marsh, Palm trees, and Coastal paintings and sketches...more to come!

 "Storm over the Marsh" 6" x 6" Acrylic on Canvas on Panel
$75 unframed, $ 150 Framed
Email me at justin@justinholdren.com  to purchase. I can invoice you via Paypal and you can pay with your credit or debit card.


 
"Ocean Isle Palm" 5" x 6" Acrylic on Primed/ Sealed Acid Free Matboard
$35 Unframed
Email me at justin@justinholdren.com to purchase. I can invoice via Paypal.
 
 
I just returned from a trip to the Ocean Isle and Calabash area of North Carolina. I was traveling with my wife and daughters so I only had time to paint in the morning. I did a few on site studies and took a lot of photos, but mostly sketched in my sketchbook in pencil, pen, and watercolor. I will share some of those sketches here on the blog in my next post.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Traveling light for Ocean Isle trip

I thought I would share some photos of my really light painting setup that I use when I can't lug a bunch of painting gear.

I am headed to the coast of NC in a few days, but because I am traveling with my wife and daughters I don't have room to carry my larger oil and acrylic setup. I also would have to worry about transporting wet paintings with the oils, so I am just taking a small acrylic setup and a watercolor/sketching kit. I am also going to complete mostly small paintings and studies on this trip since I will be painting for a short time each morning before family time. These studies will give me the color information to use on larger paintings, and I will use my photos for the details.

For the acrylics I use this small cigar box (pictured below) that has been converted to a mini paint box to hold my canvas and palette. I can do paintings up to 8" x 10" in size on this box. It has a tripod mount that I use to mount a lightweight tripod or if I am in a tight spot I just rest the box on my lap or on a flat surface. This allows me to do small paintings quickly and is convenient for travel.

 
My smallest paint box that I use for oils and acrylics when traveling light
 
 
The other cigar box (pictured below) that will be in my backpack will contain materials for quick sketches in pen, pencil, and watercolor. It contains a small watercolor set, pencils, and a small pocket watercolor sketchbook. I don't use watercolor that often, but found out that I can keep a minimal amount of materials that almost fit in my pocket with a small watercolor field box with brush and a few pencils. I will probably be doing many sketches in my sketchbook with this setup when I am not painting in acrylics on canvas and board. I will post the sketches and paintings from my trip when I return and will try to post some from the road.
 
 

My watercolor and pen/pencil compact sketching kit


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Ocean Isle & Calabash Trip





 
 A few photos from a past trip


Been awhile since my last post but I have been busy with commission work, a new etsy store project that I am working on with my wife, and enjoying my oldest daughter's kindergarten graduation! It has been hectic, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I will be taking a short family trip to the Ocean Isle and Calabash area of North Carolina soon and although I will be there with family, I will be sketching and painting some small works in the early morning hours. These will mostly be small paintings that are studies for larger gallery works, and I will have them available at an affordable unframed price. If you want to be put on a email list to receive first pick of these studies when I return, email me at justin@justinholdren.com and I will add you to the list. I will then send out an email when I return with a link where you can view the images and price.

Don't miss out on the chance to own something original at an affordable price!
I will try to post images to the blog from the road, but will mostly be posting to my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/justinholdrenfineart .

Monday, April 29, 2013

Clearwind Farm and Career Changes

Hello all!
Last weekend I had the privilege to paint at beautiful Clearwind Farm in Mebane, NC. This farm is home to the North Carolina Theraputic Riding Center and they had a show and fundraiser this past weekend. Myself and some other artists were invited to paint during the show and we donated some work for a silent auction to help with the fundraiser. to find out more about them visit www.nctrcriders.org .
I will post some photos from the event when I get them downloaded from my camera card. Here are some shots I took of the property with my phone.







I was thinking after the event that day, how my freelance art career has changed since the birth of our second daughter last July. I used to try and commit work to every show and invitational event because I was producing a ton of work and trying to gain more sales to keep learning and moving forward. After our second daughter was born and two kids were in the house, things changed!

 We had a lot more on our plate, and I was mostly painting late at night. I couldn't commit to as many shows or finish a solo project that I hoped to exhibit last year, but that's okay. I am learning to make good use of limited time to just slow the pace and improve my work by much study and painting as much as I can.
I am now finding more time to work on some new projects and I will keep you posted!

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Hard at Work on New Things!




 
Late night in the studio trying to finish up a bunch of works that are in progress


Although I have not been posting much to the blog, I assure you that I am painting!
In between studio time I juggle a family and a full time job, so life has been a bit exciting lately. We had some tenants move out of a rental property we own back in January and they left a mess, so I have taken on that huge project of getting the house painted, repaired, etc. so we can rent it out again.
All of this has meant that while I have been painting, I haven't had much time to post. Remember if you are on Facebook, you can find my art page there where I post more frequently than the blog. Just search "Justin Holdren Fine Art" on Facebook to see my art page or go directly to www.facebook.com/justinholdrenfineart .

I am also launching a new etsy store with my wife that will be different from my fine art, it will be commercial art prints themed for kids rooms and homes. My wife will plan and design the prints to offer and I will do the artwork. This will be marketed separately from my fine art business of course, but it will be a fun project that will allow us to do something creative together. More on that soon!

Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Etsy Store Now Re-open!

I have had an account and shop with Etsy for awhile, but have never really done anything with it because I mostly concentrated on my website, blog, Facebook, and Ebay. I have now listed new items in my store and will be adding new items every few weeks!

I am using Etsy mostly for my smaller unframed paintings that are affordable, but I will soon be offering open edition prints and other affordable "art" items. Some of the paintings available on my website will also be available on Etsy. Check it out and visit often to see my new listings!

Click HERE to visit my shop on Etsy!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Lavender Farm Painting auction



 "Lavender Farm in June"
10" x 10" Acrylic on Canvas ( Painted on location at a lavender farm)
Click HERE to view the 2 day special auction price!
**This piece is now SOLD and on its wat to a collector in Bahama, NC.**

 This painting is currently up for bid for a limited time 2 day auction on Ebay. The starting bid is only $49, which is a fraction of the original retail price. Have to make room in my small studio for 2013 paintings! Don't miss out! This price is for a limited time!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Some fun with small paintings

These are a few small paintings I had finished in the studio awhile back. Sometimes these small ones let me try out new colors and techniques without the pressure of working on a large expensive canvas. They are affordable as well for originals. My friends and patrons also like to collect them because they take up little space. Back tomorrow with some changes to another painting and some more new work!


 "Morning Reflections"
4" x 4" Acrylic on Cradled Panel
$35 unframed
Purchase at my website HERE or by emailing justin@justinholdren.com



 "Blue Ridge Meadow"
6" x 6" Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas (Wired and ready to hang unframed)
$75
Purchase at my website HERE or by emailing justin@justinholdren.com


"Summer Colors"
6" x 6" Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas (Wired and ready to hang unframed)
$75
Purchase at my website HERE or by emailing justin@justinholdren.com

Friday, January 04, 2013

Goodbye 2012




As I think about the past year, I realize how quickly time has flown. 2012 was a good year and I am truly blessed. In this down economy, my family is still surviving, even thriving a bit. Our second daughter was born in July and she has truly been our joy this year, along with her 5 year old sister.
All the activity and a busy work schedule means that I didn't get as far with my painting as I wanted to this year, but that's ok. I took a step back a bit and really enjoyed the time with my wife and 2 daughters.

 I am still working full time and doing many commissions, so much of my work was contracted work this year and much study work, instead of work that was sent to galleries or put on my website. I painted more studies this year to really grow and improve my work instead of producing a lot for sale. That is a luxury I still have because I haven't left my day job.

 My goal this new year is to paint even more and finish 2 or 3 large projects that will be good for my art career. I also want to continue to push myself in new directions as a painter to really grow and improve with each new work.
Hope everyone has a happy new year!