We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Holly Hammeren. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Holly below.

Hi Holly, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

The first time I sold a commissioned painting was in the summer of 2013, when I turned 19 years old. A woman who my mother cargave for requested I paint a portrait of her two adorable great grandchildren. I was working as a server a lot that summer to save up for my first trip to Europe for my sister’s wedding. Anne, the sweet woman who commissioned me, had already paid for my oil paints and other supplies prior to starting it, so I had already been overwhelmed with gratitude for this project. However, I was still in a large cloud of doubt that I would ever be a “real” artist, and assumed that this was just a way of Anne showing kindness to her caregiver’s daughter.

Near the end of the summer, when my mother delivered the painting, she called me during my last shift. She told me that Anne wrote me a check for $1,000, more than $700 over the price I expected. I had to ask multiple times if she was sure- I couldn’t believe that someone would put that amount of value on something I created. I’ve never put a lot of attention on money, but this payment for my first commission gave me a wave of confidence and belief in my potential that set the tone for the years to come. Anne said she thought I’d be a famous artist one day, and although that is not my personal goal, it continues to nudge me in the direction of growth.

Holly, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a freelance artist, primarily working in oil paintings, but have explored other mediums like watercolor, acrylic, charcoal, and ceramics. I grew up in Olmsted Falls, Ohio, where my art teachers did an incredible job of listening to my ideas and pushing me to believe in myself. I remember my final highschool art show as one of the best feelings in the world. It was the first time I was able to fill a space with my art and share it with everyone I knew. I minored in fine arts at the Ohio State University, and loved taking a variety of art courses, but was primarily consumed by my studies in International Development.

After selling my first painting at 19, and even hundreds in the following years, I still struggled to call myself an artist. For a long time, I viewed my commissioned paintings and my original artwork as a “side hustle” to save up for my travels. Because of this travel focus, the places and people I have met all over the world have ended up being the biggest inspiration for my creations.

Traveling keeps me excited about making art. I love going to cafes by myself with my sketchbook and absorbing the energy of a space with my work. It sparks strangers to come up to me, and create beautiful conversations about art and life and the culture surrounding us.

I’ve held many jobs in order to support my craft, but teaching English abroad has been the most rewarding of them all. My last teaching gig was in Malaga, Spain, where I was asked by my yoga studio to create an original mural for the space. The project created such a euphoric feeling for me, and I decided that it was best to move back to the U.S. to pursue a career in art. Although this meant getting a part-time job in customer service, it still felt like the right choice going forward.

I have been back in Columbus now for 2 consecutive years, learning and growing within the art community here, and loving it. I occasionally teach art courses at a local charter high school, in addition to the commissions that I work on at my home studio. My work has been presented at local art markets and cafes all around the Columbus area. I’ve also started offering live art at weddings and other events!

At the end of the day, what I am most proud of is that I have taken something I love doing and created a business out of it. It’s been a long road to get here and I know I would not be where I am without the generous help of so many friends and family.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is to witness the viewer’s reaction to a piece. It feels surreal to see that what I put onto paper or canvas can evoke so much feeling from others. Not that I aim to make people cry haha but there was one time at an art booth that one of my paintings made a stranger cry, and I will never forget that moment. She said she could feel the pain of the female in the painting, something I didn’t even realize I was communicating but rang so true. When your art–better yet, a stranger viewing your art–can tell you what’s going on inside before you can even decipher it yourself, you begin to realize the power of these creations.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn that only artists with money can “make it.” I don’t have to create a certain amount of pieces and make a certain amount of money in order to make an impact. I was told that I shouldn’t go to school for art because it was not very likely I would make money from it. I realize now that this advice was self-doubting and a reflection of the fears of those giving it, not my own. I’ve worked many jobs, met many successful, wealthy people, surpassed so much doubt of my capabilities, and realized that my gut was always right. My art is the greatest contribution I can make to this world–the greatest source of peace to offer others. Whether it’s a painting that brings a beautiful memory to life, or a piece that reminds someone they are not alone in their pain, I hope to continue making art that reminds us of our oneness and how each of us contributes a precious part to it all.

Contact Info:

• Website: hollianasarte.com
• Instagram: @hollianas_arte
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064705091697
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-hammeren-286b06b6/

Image Credits
Sydney Palmer (Columbus photographer)