About the Artist
Holly Buntin Johnson
"I am originally from West Memphis, AR. I currently live in Southaven, MS with my husband, Robert and our dog, Rusty. I've loved to paint and draw for as long as I can remember. Growing up, every Christmas Santa Claus would bring me an artist's sketch book, the "real" kind with thick white sheets of paper and big spiral binding down the side. I'd spend the whole year filling up that sketchbook one sheet at a time.
In 2005 I graduated from the University of Mississippi with a B.A. in Art as well as a degree from the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. Following graduation I got my first job as an artist working at a local retail shop in Oxford. I painted personalized images and names on cups, picture frames, bulletin boards and the like.
From there I went on to work several other jobs including office manager for my dad's dental practice, children's art instructor, and even hotel front desk attendant. All the while I spent my spare time painting, drawing, and squirreling away money in a jar labeled “dream job”. I started traveling to nearby arts & crafts festivals to set up a booth and sell my work. Slowly, my business grew over the course of several years. Finally, in the spring of 2008, I made the leap to working as a full time professional artist and I couldn’t be happier. As Katharine Graham once put it, "To love what you do and feel that it matters- how could anything be more fun?"
These days I work mainly in watercolor though I'll occasionally dip my brush in oil or acrylic paint. I most often paint in a somewhat illustrative style, simplifying the subject matter and using loose, bold strokes. I strive to create a light-hearted, cheery mood in each piece. I want my watercolors to make the world a happier place, drawing a smile or sparking a conversation. I find the inspiration for my work from the people and the objects around me. Every painting has a story behind it, and I try to give a glimpse of that story in the title of the piece. In addition to creating original works of art, I also paint portraits and reproduce my work on stationery products.
In 2005 I graduated from the University of Mississippi with a B.A. in Art as well as a degree from the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. Following graduation I got my first job as an artist working at a local retail shop in Oxford. I painted personalized images and names on cups, picture frames, bulletin boards and the like.
From there I went on to work several other jobs including office manager for my dad's dental practice, children's art instructor, and even hotel front desk attendant. All the while I spent my spare time painting, drawing, and squirreling away money in a jar labeled “dream job”. I started traveling to nearby arts & crafts festivals to set up a booth and sell my work. Slowly, my business grew over the course of several years. Finally, in the spring of 2008, I made the leap to working as a full time professional artist and I couldn’t be happier. As Katharine Graham once put it, "To love what you do and feel that it matters- how could anything be more fun?"
These days I work mainly in watercolor though I'll occasionally dip my brush in oil or acrylic paint. I most often paint in a somewhat illustrative style, simplifying the subject matter and using loose, bold strokes. I strive to create a light-hearted, cheery mood in each piece. I want my watercolors to make the world a happier place, drawing a smile or sparking a conversation. I find the inspiration for my work from the people and the objects around me. Every painting has a story behind it, and I try to give a glimpse of that story in the title of the piece. In addition to creating original works of art, I also paint portraits and reproduce my work on stationery products.
"The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps." - Proverbs 16: 9
All images ©Holly B. Johnson
