Jim Holland

            Jim Holland was born in 1955 in Schenectady, New York. He was first inspired by art from looking through his parents’ art history books as a child. Holland attended Dutchess Community College with a degree in Graphic Design. After school he worked as a graphic designer and then a few years later decided to paint full time. His inspiration comes from artists like Edward Hopper. Currently he resides in Massachusetts.

            His artwork consists mainly of tranquil landscapes and interiors. He would paint scenes from trips he went on (such as a trip to Cape Cod). The spaces that he recreates are stripped down to a bare minimum in order to give a sense of solitude, such as that of Hopper’s work. Holland plays with use of lighting and color to alter the mood in each piece. His artwork has been displayed all over the United States and Europe.

            I love his work because of the isolation in each piece. I love how he plays with natural lighting and is able to create a narrative even though each painting is devoid of any living thing. I think it is amazing how much lighting can change the mood in a piece.