Male: Anatomy, Autonomy, Admirers and Assets

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Acrylic artist Brian S. Holderman continues to evolve as an artist, his new exhibit “Male: Anatomy, Autonomy, Admirers and Assets” opens June 14 from 4-6 pm and will be up through July 7.  His beginning works were all colorful abstracts only painted on 36”x 36” canvases.  In 2012 he started experimenting with salt to create heavy textures to his artwork.   However, in 2018 while living in Paradise California his life was going to be forever changed due to losing his home, his studio, and his art in The Camp Fire.

After The Camp Fire, he found peace in Gualala, CA.  He bought a home in Sea Ranch and started his healing process.  He began painting scenes he had remembered while being trapped in the fire for eight hours.  Painting was his therapy.  After completing The Camp Fire Series, he had several art shows to share with others what he had survived.  He showcased his experience through 10 paintings, 30 photographs, and several videos.  You may have attended his show at the Gualala Art Center in 2020.

He continued painting abstracts with Acrylic and Salt focusing on coastal life until December of 2022.  This is when his neighbors sent him a photograph of themselves in black and white.  “It had such a Mod feeling to it, that I just had to paint it.”  This is when he started painting his black and white canvases without infusing salt into his paint. 

His technique has morphed to mixed-media.  He manipulates a photograph, prints it on canvas, and then paints the canvas.  He also started to vary the size of his paintings and subject matter.   He has completed several commission pieces for private collections. 

This last year, Brian began working on a new series title, Male.  In this series he focuses on the figure, love and intimacy of men.  He hopes to be able to complete more than 50 pieces for this show.  The exhibit will be on display in the Gallery from June 14 through July 7, 2024. 

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