Connie Millholland connie@millhollandart.com |
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| My inspiration to become an artist began in elementary school. Our “once a week hour” for art was exhilarating. I seemed to develop, very early, an eye for drawing and was asked by teachers to develop art projects for the school. This provided great self-esteem for a young budding artist. In high school there was only one art course available within the four-year period. It was basic art that provided minimal skills and opportunity for developing to an advanced level did not exist. Upon entering college I anticipated plentiful art courses that would teach traditional skills and techniques. My disappointment continued in college as I ventured head on into the psychedelic movement of the late 60’s and early 70’s. Traditional and representational art skills, which I so desired to learn, were not in vogue. In college I majored in Art Education and I have been teaching art for 31 years. During this time I also developed into a professional artist. Shortly after college I began to seek out quality instruction at the Academy of Art in San Francisco and from individual artists who taught within their studios. I was able to develop my skills through specialized classes and small group instruction. I was most appreciative of my figure-drawing instructor. I identified with his philosophy and process. I spent several years evolving from trial and error, experienced different mediums and tried many different painting styles. I also focused on social statement art done in surrealistic and semi-abstraction forms. Through these experiences and the influences of other artists I evolved to become an abstract artist. My thrust is to present it uniquely which requires constant evolving and transitioning into the new. The challenge is exciting. |