Holly Dyrland​

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Biography

 

I come from a long line of farmers and creatives, artists and keepers of the land. I am a landscape artist.  A wife, a mother, an Interior Designer by training and an Artist by choice. Raised a farm girl in rural Alberta, I am constantly in awe of the sky, the movement, and the light of the landscapes here, which constantly inspire my work. I love the discovery of each painting I work on, capturing the essence and being able to bring the beauty of this world to others. 

 

I work in acrylics and love the process of layering, building brush stroke after brush stroke. I am greatly inspired by God’s creation, by those moments all around me every day that I catch glimpses of: the wind, the sunlight and the shadows.  I am not particular about what landscape
I paint, but am always drawn to  the skies, the atmosphere, the light and contrast, and especially love creating a painting that draws you in. Often my work is mistaken at first glance for a photo, but when you look at the painting I love to leave visible brushstroke, evidence of the painter at work. I like to see the paint and the process.

 

Each painting is a lesson in learning to observe my surroundings and capture the emotion of that place. I enjoy working quickly, laying shapes and capturing the overall feel of a piece. I try very hard to focus less on detail and more on emphasis of motion, allowing for a final flourish of brushwork or color surprise to bring the piece to life.

 

I am always hoping to build appreciation for the beauty around us; a moment to pause and take something in, to encourage someone to linger and stay awhile. I hope to trigger a memory, a connection to someone’s past, or just help others to see the everyday as beautiful as it is! Getting lost in a moment as if they are standing in that place, in that exact place that captured my attention.

 

Being passionate and aware of landscapes from a young age has created an internal need to explore the act of creating. To figure out how to paint, what to say and why it’s important to say it. This creative exploration and intense learning in a relatively short period of time has forced me to constantly assess my work and my voice.  With a growing desire to pare down my paintings to the essential elements of shape, light, movement, and depth, I am determined to capture the essence of a moment on canvas.  

 

My work with acrylics has encouraged my style to have expressive brushwork as working with this medium begs for speed. Often, where paint is placed is where it stays, and working quickly leads to a more expressive and intuitive response to the paint and canvas. This ability to work freely and quickly has pushed my style as an artist beyond representational to a more contemporary interpretation while maintaining the integrity of the physical landscape. You’ll see more unblended brushwork and purposefully placed color overlaid on what would be a more traditional painted landscape.  

 

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