About the Artist
Artist Bio
b. 1997
Holly Mays’ focus in her work is to merge figurative bodies of work with an emphasis on the environment the figure is in. With a deepened love for landscape, she hopes to bring to life the beauties of the natural world and represent the innate connection humans have to nature.
Her work typically consists of oil paintings, but includes other mediums in the forms of drawings and large public murals. Holly spends her free time painting en plein air, usually surrounded by trees. She uses her studies and personal experiences to bring her perspective to a 2-dimensional service in the studio.
Holly is a fine artist and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Laguna College of Art + Design, while majoring in drawing and painting.
She is currently located in Canyon County, Idaho, yet also works throughout the Western United States. Her art has been displayed in multiple public areas such as Museums, galleries, art shows, conferences and other community spaces.
Artist Statement
As an artist, my passion comes directly from the natural world and the beauty of God’s creation. I have always had a longing to be with the trees, experiencing the sublime of nature itself. My work is directly influenced from these fixations. I spend my time exercising these ideas, by painting en plien-air. The majority of my work is produced in oil paints, with the intention to be precise with my brush work, yet inventive with my subject matter. My intent in my work is to express new ideas by bringing my own perspective to western-style art, while embodying a modern spin. In doing this, I hope to convey the human relationship to nature itself.
CV
Education:
2017- 2021 Laguna College of Art + Design, CA
Bachelor of Fine Art, Drawing + Painting Major
2012-2016 Orange Lutheran High School, CA
Art Shows + Exhibitions:
2021 Fine Arts Exhibition
LCAD Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2021 Laguna Beach Art Walk
Artist Eye Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2016 Advanced Placement Senior Art Exhibit
Nechita Center for the Arts, Orange, CA
2014 - 2015 Exposed Hand picked Exhibition,
Richard Nixon Presidential Library + Museum,
Yorba Linda, CA
2014 Exposed Art Contest
Yorba Linda Public Library, Yorba Linda, CA
Recognitions + Awards:
2021 Runner up, Trustee Choice Award
Laguna College of Art + Design, Laguna Beach, CA
2016 Nominated for Orange County Artist of the Year
Orange County Register, Orange, CA
2016 Recognized Featured Artist of the Year
Orange Lutheran High School, Orange, CA
2014 First place + Recognized Artist - Exposed Art Contest
Richard Nixon Presidential Library + Museum,
Yorba Linda, CA
Public Personal Work + Activities:
2019 Public Mural
Orange Hills Assembly, Orange CA
2018 Public Murals; three - room art displays
Youth Center, Orange CA
2016 Live, Public Painting, Winter Retreat Conference
Big Bear, CA
2014 Live, Public Painting Mural - International Youth
Conference Vineyard Church of Anaheim, Anaheim CA
2013 Tree of Life Mural, Vineyard Church of Anaheim,
Anaheim Hills CA
Public Group Works + Other Artists:
2021 Mural Associate for Fine Artist - John Pugh
Ashland, OR
2020 Moulton Museum Mural worked for Fine Artist -
Timothy Robert Smith, Laguna Hills, CA
2019 Beatnik Alley Mural worked for Fine Artist - Timothy
Robert Smith, Hermosa Beach, CA
2018 Momentum Mural worked for Fine Artist - Timothy
Robert Smith, Laguna Beach High School, Laguna Beach
2018 Upside Down Group Mural with Fine Artist - Timothy
Robert Smith, Laguna College of Art + Design, Laguna
Beach, CA