An American artist
Streeter Holden has been painting for the past 40 years. Originally from Manhattan, she currently lives in Naples, Florida.
Holden trained at the Art Students League of New York with the great Robert Beverly Hale among others, and at the Rhode Island School of Design with Robin Wiseman and Arnold Prince. She holds a BA from Connecticut College where she studied with Barkley Hendricks.
Early beginnings
As a girl, Holden spent summers with her family in Rhode Island, sailing on the Sakonnet River. This is where she first learned to paint, as did her family before her. Her father was an artist, as were his sisters and their parents. They were schooled in painting by renowned watercolorist Charles Woodbury, Elizabeth Ward Perkins, and Gertrude Nason who would come for summer visits. And this loving gift was passed down to Holden at a young age.
Plein air painting
"There's something magical about painting en plein air. The light changes so quickly - as soon as a cloud passes overhead there is a new vista before me. It loosens me up, forces me to take in all the spectacle of nature.
"My earliest memories of painting are so vivid because I was fully engaged, in wonder of all I saw before me, grappling with just how I could possibly capture its essence on paper.
"It requires improvisation. Having to deal with all the elements demands ingenuity. It teaches me how to solve problems in a different way.
"Watercolor is a medium with a life of its own. It is so good at doing its own thing that I'm able to take more risks, to stay out of the way and let the paint and water express themselves."
Light, spirit, color, joy
"Early on, I discovered Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper and fell in love with their vivid use of light in painting. Later I found Rockwell Kent with his spiritual connection to the landscape. I became mesmerized by the dazzling brushwork of Cecilia Beaux, marveling at her handling of oil paint. Helen Frankenthaler and Wolf Kahn stirred in me a love of intense color as a means of expressing feeling - lively but also relaxed and peaceful. The works of Alex Katz and David Hockney reminded me to have fun with the process, be optimistic, share the joy."
Developing the craft
Holden is constantly experimenting in the studio. "Exploring new techniques and new subjects is what keeps interest for me."
Her materials are organized and her process is efficient. "Yes, painting requires discipline and patience, but it's really about being responsive."
She becomes very focused, yet there is much passion in her work. "Painting is an adventure. I don't work the same way all the time."
Adept at combining intuition with technique, her work is solid but also lively. "Every painting involves some struggle, a point where I feel I'm totally lost. Sometimes the way out is to rely on my training, to be more precise. Other times the answer lies in taking a risk, expressing emotion."
Painting as a spiritual journey
About making art Holden says, "Painting gives me an excuse to pay attention. It's about reducing the external to its essence. Capturing the feeling that what I'm seeing before me is great. In my rush to set it all down, I need to first determine the focus of the piece. It's not about recreating the scene; the purpose of painting is to express my reaction to the scene.
"Looking at the world through the lens of an artist, gives more meaning to color, and to the play of light. If I want a painting to resonate, I need to really analyze the way light flows across the form. I use color to express feelings, which can take some trial and error. To paint well I must be willing to take risks, putting everything in the service of my idea. Selecting only the values that communicate the most, editing out the unnecessary. To find what is universal.
"Painting is a spiritual journey. It's when I feel most connected. When I am fully present, beauty can be found in even the most ordinary of places."
Purchasing a painting
If you are interested in a purchasing piece of Holden’s work, please contact us for more information.