Today we’d like to introduce you to Christy Holmes.
Hi Christy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For as long as I can remember, I have always loved making art. My grandmother was a portrait painter and my favorite place to be was in her studio… all the colors, smells, etc. – it was magical. As a kid, I gravitated to anything you could make with your hands… lite brite – check; hook rug – you betcha; spirograph – yep; Crayola crayons with the built in sharpener – all day long! While the right brain was where my heart was at – my left-brained tendencies kept me pretty rooted in what I thought was more practical and more reasonable.
So I studied Marketing in college, all the while secretly wishing I was an art major. I worked in marketing for several years, married my best friend and in my late 20’s, I decided to pursue my dream and returned to art school. I loved it – the energy, the colors, smells – it too was magical. My studies were cut short after a move back to our hometown- Atlanta; however, I was able to continue to paint and began showing my work at local shows and a gallery on the Westside in the late ’90s before that part of town really developed. We started our family and I put my art career on hold for several years and devoted myself to my new creative endeavor… raising children! When our kids were in elementary school, I joined forces with two of my best buds and we started BeeGood Design. We specialized in original art for the home, where we each individually painted and showed our work collectively at local shows, festivals and fundraisers for a few years.
It was a great way to dip my toe back into painting and being creative. Since then, I’ve painted on and off for the last few years doing commissions and a few small group shows but it wasn’t until fall of 2019 when I decided to begin to paint full time again. I had one child in college and one almost out of high school. The timing was right and I started 3rdQuarter Studio roughly a year ago. It all began with a few rather ambitious large-scale projects for my church, Haygood United Methodist church and then I was on a roll. I had a successful show at the Trinity Spotlight on Art Show in Feb 2020; was selected to participate in the Scouted Studio’s Emerging Artist Show in Charleston, SC; launched an exclusive tea towel collection at Lucy’s Market, and am a vendor at the Westside Market in Midtown. Now that my children are headed into their new adventures… so am I. I’m in the 3rd Quarter of my life and ready to see where this next chapter takes me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I am extremely lucky and have been blessed with an amazing group of people in my corner my whole life. Wonderful parents, an adoring husband, fantastic children and friends. There has always been a support network to help encourage and support me along my journey. That being said, I think my greatest set of challenges are ones that are internal and self-imposed. I have felt a calling to be an artist my whole life, yet there has always been a questioning mindset that has held me back from pursuing my dream. It’s the voices that ask, “is pursuing art practical?”, “am I good enough?” “Will people like my work?” is the timing, right?”… always waiting for things to be perfect. I turned 50 a few years ago and realized… it’s never going to be perfect. I call my studio 3rd Quarter Studio because that’s what I’m in – the 4th Quarter is too late. So I’m going for it and it won’t be perfect and that’s totally ok… embracing that has made all the difference.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a mixed media painter and I am inspired by color, patterns and texture. I enjoy using a variety of found materials such as fragments from vintage books, maps, papers and letters to create a layered background to my pieces. The subject matter varies from a simple still life to complex cityscapes, all while incorporating the the layered background, which often helps tell the story of the imagery above. What I think sets me apart is the personal connection many people have to my artwork. I love making pieces that remind my collectors of special memories or moments. One of my most popular series are my mixed media cityscapes. I love painting the skyline because it brings me a sense of community and connection. We all have different lives and different memories created in this city and in these spaces we share. The view may be the same but the meaning we attach to our landscape is very personal and unique.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
While the bulk of my work can be purchased online through my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/3rdquarterstudio/ or at the Westside Market in Midtown, I do enjoy working with people to create custom art pieces for commission. I love making art that is unique to its owner and working together with my clients to create truly one of a kind piece of art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christyholmes.art
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/3rdquarterstudio/
Image Credits
Laura Beamon Photographer
