Holly Friesen

Holly Friesen was born in Saskatchewan, studied Visual Arts at John Abbott College in Montreal, painting at York University in Toronto, and with various other artists across Canada & in Europe over the years. More importantly she has painted from close observation of nature for over 20 years. Throughout her many years of travel she discovered the portability of watercolours and developed her observational skills by painting on location. For the last five years she has rediscovered oils and their luscious physicality & acrylics with their versatility. The scale of her paintings has grown to accommodate the large movement she feels within herself and the earth around her. Her newest pieces are largely informed by the internal metaphors and dream images she encounters when working from the “inside” of the earth landscape.

Holly Friesen directs & coordinates a large barn studio in Mont-Tremblant with a group of artists. The barn serves as both a summer studio and a gallery allowing direct contact between the artists and the public, which is an important element for Holly. In the winter she returns to her Montreal studio located in the Complexe du Canal Lachine in Montreal.  Find more of her work at: www.theroaringinside.blogspot.com and www.hollyfriesen.com.

A collection of Holly's paintings appears in the July, 2010 issue of Status Hat: WATER