Biography - Aaron Holland

photo credit: LindavanBeek

ABOUT AARON:

Aaron is an award winning artist. He is a founding member of the Peninsula Plein Air Painters (PPAP). He has participated in many shows regionally and nationally.

Aaron is also a seasoned Instructor. Holland’s goals as an instructor and as an artist run parallel, that is: a healthy respect for nature and an observance of fundamental “truths” such as light, atmosphere, shape, color and value. Holland teaches an academic approach to drawing and painting and stresses the importance of understanding the basics of accurate draughtsmanship, composition, correct color and mixing, and calligraphic brushwork.

Aaron Holland studied art in a traditional atelier, the Bougie Studio (atelier) in Minneapolis. This type of training requires that the students attend full-time(40 hrs/week) to study specific drawing and painting techniques. Aaron was in apprenticeship to Peter Bougie and Brian Lewis from 1995-1998, where he studied Classical Realism in the French Academic tradition, also known as the “Boston School”.

Holland currently resides and continues to paint outside and at his studio in the Door Peninsula of Wisconsin.

TRAINING:

1995-1998
Bougie Studio
Minneapolis,MN.
Classical training in drawing and painting the portrait and figure, specifically using the Sight-Size Method.

1994
Parsons School of Art and Design
Paris, France
Studio Art- Modern

TEACHING VENUES:

1996- present
Private Instruction

2007 (Aug.)
Door County Art League
Door County, WI
Watercolor Demonstration –
“How to Paint a Realistic Scene From Memory”

2002-2005
Bay Area Watercolor Guild
Green Bay, WI.
Watercolor Demonstrations and Lectures
Demo’s include: “Practical Color Theory” “Painting a Picture Start to Finish” & “Top Ten Principles of Composition”

April 2004- May 2008
Kewaunee Academy of Fine Art
Kewaunee, WI.
Instructor of classical drawing and painting techniques, including the Sight-size Method.

2001- (currently Kewaunee Academy of Fine Art)
Barnsite Art Studio (also known as Kewaunee Academy of Fine Art)
Kewaunee, WI.
Workshop Instructor in various drawing and painting classes

2000- October 2008
Peninsula Art School (renamed: Peninsula School of Art)
Fish Creek, WI.
Offers Various workshops in Drawing and Painting

2002-2004 (circa)
Miller Art Museum
Sturgeon Bay, WI.
various workshops- drawing and painting

Minnesota River School of Fine Art
Burnsville,MN.
Youth Arts Instructor- Drawing and Painting
1999-2000

CURRENT ARTWORK FEATURED:

  • 2010- Mural Commission for private client
  • 2010- Art League New London- Juror of Awards for Annual Show
  • 2010- Sept. 15, WAHA State Conference – Live Demo followed by auction
  • 2010- September- Co-Organized show and featured artist
    Miller Art Museum “Sturgeon Bay- Past and Present”

PREVIOUS SHOWS AND AWARDS

  • 2009- Public Mural commission for Sturgeon Bay 3rd Ave.
  • 2009- The Hardy Gallery Invitational (Ephraim, WI.)
  • 2009- Oconomowoc Mid-Summer Plein Air Competition/Exhibition (July 24-30)
  • 2009- Honorable Mention Award Winner- Oconomowoc Plein Air Competition
  • 2009- Cedarburg Outdoor Painting Competition- Plein Air Artist
  • - and Exhibit at Cedarburg Cultural Center
  • 2008- Judon's Journal- Plein Air Outfitter's Newsletter click here
  • 2008- Miller Art Museum's 33'rd Annual Show
  • 2008— American Artist Watercolor magazine- Finalist, Cover Competition click here~!
  • 2008—  Estes Park, CO- International Plein Air Painters (IPAP) Group Show (currently touring on a North American Tour)
  • 2008—  Hardy Center for the Arts "Invitational Exhibition" Ephraim, Wisconsin
  • 2008—  Hardy CFA 'Mosaic Event' and Auction to benefit for the CFA -Invitational
  • 2008 — Solo Show- Featured Artist for June "Artist of the Month" Door County Memorial Hospital
  • 2008 — Peninsula Art School "2008 Salon" Annual Show
  • 2008 — Solo Show at Link Gallery in Fish Creek in conjunction with Contemporary Landscape Artists (CLA)
  • 2008 — 2008- Hosting Artist for the “World Tour of Contemporary Landscape Artists”
  • 2008 — Richeson 75 International Competition: "Artist Choice"- Awarded a Meritorious Entry in the the Publication
  • 2007 — Miller Art Museum Coming Home For The Holidays Christmas Show- Invited Artist
  • 2007 — "People's Choice" Cash Award- Miller Art Museum Juried Annual Show
  • 2007 — International Plein Air Painters and Landscape Artists International – “World Tour Participating Artist”
  • 2007 — Miller Art Museum: "2007 Annual Juried Art Show"- Featured Artist
  • 2007 — Richeson 75 International Competition- "Landscapes and Exteriors" Exhibition
  • 2007 — Richeson 75 International Competition: "Landscapes and Exteriors" Publication
  • 2007 — Door County Art League — Painting Demonstration in Watercolor
  • 2007 — Judge of Awards- Door County Art League 'Members Only Exhibition' – Sturgeon Bay, WI.
  • 2007 — Solo Show – Wallflowers Gallery- Canby, Oregon (May)
  • 2007 — Faculty Show Peninsula Art School- Fish Creek, WI.
  • 2007 — "Alive in the Arts- Juried Exhibition"- Plymouth Arts Center, Plymouth, WI
  • 2007 — Richeson 75 International Competition: "Figure/ Portrait" Awarded Meritorious Entry into Publication
  • 2007 — On-line Art Competition click here Still Life, 3 entries
  • 2007 — Richeson 75 International Competition: "Still-Life" Exhibition
  • 2007 — Richeson 75 International Competition: "Still Life" Publication
  • 2006 — Special Merit Cash Award- Miller Art Museum Annual Show
  • 2006 — Beacons Around the Bay — juried charity fundraiser and auction
  • 2006 — Alla Prima International Exhibit (Invited Guest Artist) Barnsite Art Studio and Gallery
  • 2006 — Christmas Exhibition at Plymouth Arts Center Plymouth, WI
  • 2005 — Participated in Tulip Time's 75th anniversary —jubilee in Holland, Michigan
  • 2005 — City of Holland- Purchase of “The Dutch Windmill for Windmill Island”
  • 2005 — Keynote Speaker at Bay Area Watercolor Guild — Lecture Composition
  • 2005 — Hardy Center for the Arts — juried annual show
  • 2004 — Sturgeon Around the Bay — participated in juried charity event.
  • 2004 — Hardy Center for the Ats — juried annual show
  • 2004 — Keynote Speaker and Demonstration at Bay Area Watercolor guild
  • 2004 — Miller Art Museum — juried annual show
  • 2003 — Hardy Center for the Arts- Juried Annual Show
  • 2003 — Cover Artist for the Key to the Door Illustrated — winter edition magazine
  • 2002 — Sturgeon Around the Bay — Invited Artist for the first annual charity fundraiser
  • 2001 — Snowstar Gallery- Invited Artist 2001/2002 season
  • 2001 — Hardy Gallery Ephraim, WI "Door County Collection 2001 Show
  • 2001 — Door County Art League Door County, WI – Annual Exhibit
  • 2001 — Emerging Artist Grant — Invited Artist (one of six) First Annual Emerging Artist Peninsula Art School, Fish Creek
  • 2001 — “Romantics Show” Group Show- Stone Harbor Resort, Sturgeon Bay, WI
  • 2001 — “Faculty Exhibit" Peninsula Art School, Fish Creek, WI
  • 1999 — Minneapolis Institute of Art- Foot In The Door exhibition
  • 1996-2001 (circa) — West Bend Art Museum, West Bend, WI – Annual Juried Shows
  • 1994 — Participated in Group Show Studio 613 ( 4 man show)
  • 1992 — Awarded commission for 21 stained glass windows for St. Peter's United Church of Christ

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Peninsula Plein Air Painters
Charter Member

Gaytee Stained Glass
Minneapolis, MN.
Glass designer and fabricator ( see St. Peters UCC in Gallery Page) from 1995-2000