Meet Justin Holdren | Professional Artist and Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Holdren and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I have been drawing since I could pick up a pencil and I enjoy the creative process so much that I only ever wanted to do one thing, and that is to create art. I love that my artist side is always working, meaning that if I am watching the clouds in the sky or the way the light hits a tree, that is my work. I am always looking for ideas to express through my art.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art has always been about beauty. I don’t paint or draw things that are depressing or dark. Nature and outdoors have always inspired me, as well as travel. The landscape and nature can be translated to a painting in so many different ways and I have always loved that. Capturing life and beauty through art is so rewarding and I love that I get to do art every day, whether that is in my studio or in my classroom teaching art to my students.

It was not always easy to get to the point where I could make my living doing something art related every day. I worked non art jobs for many years and freelanced by doing commissions, gallery shows, and illustration work while working full time. It was only very recently that my art career started making strides and allowed me to reach more collectors and I am also teaching k-12 art which allows me to share my passion with students and share with them just how important study and hard work are to be the best artist you can be.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, my best friend is my wife, and she is always with me , but if we had a friend visiting, we would probably enjoy showing them the beauty of our home state of North Carolina. We enjoy the mountains as well as the coastal regions and there are so many places to visit here. If we were at the coast, we would enjoy eating some great seafood, at places like Provision Company in Southport, NC, a coastal town that has appeared in many of my drawings and paintings. If we were in the mountains, we would enjoy taking in scenic views from the Blue Ridge Parkway while eating in some of the amazing restaurants that use local farms to create their menu. Some of the most interesting places to visit in our state are some of the most remote places, like Ocracoke Island. Once you take the ferry to the island, you feel like you are a world away from everything and can just enjoy the unspoiled beaches where no development is allowed. The beaches and coastal marshes there look the same as they probably did 100 years ago. There are many inspiring places to visit here.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I could never follow this path without the support, understanding, and encouragement of my family. My wife and daughters have always encouraged my creative efforts and have been my biggest cheerleaders.

Website: www.justinholdren.com

Instagram: @justinholdrenart

Twitter: @jholdrenart

Facebook: @justinholdrenstudios

Youtube: @justinholdrenstudios