Skip to main content

Harlan H. HOLLADAY, AKA DocH3, Artist & Educator


Harlan H. Holladay

Born 1925


Time has a way of getting away from all of us.  Harlan H. Holladay who is now in his early 90s, spent most of his life being an educator and researcher.  He is most noted for his time at St. Lawrence University first as an instructor, then ahead of the art department.  University professors and department heads spend a lot time serving on committees and providing outreach to their communities.  A simple internet search demonstrates that Dr. Holladay had a life filled with such activities and was a member of such organizations, as:  College Art Association; Society of  Architectural Historians; American Association of Univ. Prof.; Northeast Museum Association; Cooperstown Art Association, etc.
Holladay, was born in Greenville, MO, has three degrees, and studied at a couple of different institutions:  SE Missouri State College (B.S. Education); Washington University; State University of Iowa (M.A.) and Cornell University (Ph.D.).  Frequently in old newspapers you will see that he had exhibited and showed off his artistic talents and skills while working on his education.  
After he started his teaching career he exhibited extensively, for example: Corcoran Gal. Biennial, 1951; WMAA, 1952; PAFA, 1952; PAFA Watercolor exhib., 1953, 1959; 61st Nat. Watercolor Ann., Washington, 1958 (hon. ment.). Awards: first prize for other media, Nat. Art Roundup, Las Vegas, NV, 1958; Reynolds Award, Cooperstown (NY) AA, 1967.  According to Who is Who in American Art -16th Edition, he has work in following institutions:   Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, Utica, NY; St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY; Des Moines Art Center; SE Missouri University Collection; Springfield Art Museum.  Holladay was named the Flint Professor Emeritus in 1991 by St. Lawrence University.  

Dr. Holladay’s art has varied with the times, from realism all the way to abstraction.  In the 1960s and 70s he developed his own nature of abstraction or better said:  “Abstraction of Nature.”  The painting shown here illustrates a winter grove of trees with endless branches and twigs with elements of snow, the blue sky is peeking out the top.  We see the leftover leaves hanging on from autumn in golden and green tones and the painting is thick and layered oil on masonite, approximately 13.5 X 17.5 inches.  


"Abstraction of Nature"



Holladay’s work has an air of scholarship.  Looking at his work, you know that he is a master craftsman/artisan.  When it comes to Holladay, never confuse artistic ability and knowledge with price. He knows how to express every line, tone, texture, color, and form that he puts on his paintings.  In the painting shown above, each brush stroke communicates and interprets the crossover from nature to abstraction, demonstrating Holladay’s power of miracles, turning nature into abstractions or “Abstraction of Nature.”    




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MARCEL (Marcella Anderson) Torpedo Factory Artist

Marcella Anderson and/or Marcy Anderson (1946 - 2015) was better known as "MARCEL", a popular serigraph/silkscreen artist, at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in historic Old Town Alexandria, VA. She maintained a gallery and work space at the Torpedo Factory from 1976 to 2015. At the top of the stairs on the 3rd floor was this large light filled studio with a charming blonde woman surrounded by her silkscreens. In the early 80s, her work consisted mostly of water reptiles, fish, birds and environmental scenes. She kept with nature themes during most of her time at the studio. Her obituary stated: "Marcel was known for her bold, yet sensitive, use of color and design. Her images in all media reflected her love of nature. Her glowing color, both intense and delicate, was achieved through the use of transparent layers of color." Marcel was born and raised in Seattle, Washington and studied at the Cornish School of Allied Arts. Before arriving in the DC area, she had
11 comments
Read more

Japanese Wooden Dolls: Kokeshi-Ningyo "こけし－人形"

This article is dedicated to my Japanese (nihongo) Sensei, Atsuko Kuwana, who helped me learn to speak Japanese. Collectors come in all varieties, some plan their collections, others start by chance.  I saw my first kokeshi（こけし） wooden doll in 2005 while participating in a grassroutes exchange program between the U.S. and Japan.  I was staying with a family near Nagoya and the couple’s young daughter had one.  Years later when I was named a Mike Mansfield Fellow from the U.S. government to the Japanese government, and was living in Japan, I would see them frequently at flea markets and souvenir shops next to the natural hot spring resorts in the area known as Tohoku.  Before leaving for Japan, I studied all things Japanese at the George Shultz Foreign Service Institute (FSI), including a professor that covered domestic and family life and some short statements on kokeshi.  After arriving in Japan, the National Personnel Authority ( jinjiin ) was responsible for my continued studies, b
Post a Comment
Read more

Leonard Thorpe, Modern British Artist

Thorpe, a totally modern artist, used London and the bucolic country side as his muse.  Clearly the London cityscape was his inspiration.  He painted all the city sights:  St. Paul's Cathedral, the Parliament, the Palace of Westminster, the Beefeaters at the Palace, the Victorian Memorial, Big Ben, the Monument and of course Trafalgar Square.  These London landmarks are painted with affirming gestures in moody blues and graphic grays.  His palette knife application technique, along with his brush work was applied in a quick layer over the oil underpainting.  There is an appearance of buildup-so caked on, that the results look molten.  This methodology created textured impressions right on the canvas.  He combined architectural details with spontaneous happenings.    His color palette frequently includes red double-decker buses, Beefeater guards or flags that add balance to his moody paintings.  In " St. Paul's Cathedral " below, Thorpe presents a rainy evening with
Post a Comment
Read more