Inspired by Water Cover Artist Marcia Holmes
photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com
by Poki Hampton
12
Inside Northside
IN FEBRUARY 2020, artist Marcia Holmes, who had just returned from her sixth teaching engagement, this time at The Mississippi School of Folk Art in Natchez, repacked her bags and planned to join the “Palate to Palette” tour in Spain to paint. Then came the call for the COVID shutdown. Luckily, Marcia had taken many photographs from her 2019 travels to New York City and Albuquerque. “On the outskirts of Albuquerque, I discovered Shady Lake, a gorgeous place with water lilies, cottonwood trees and mountains in the background.” These photos served as inspiration for paintings to come. Marcia created colorful abstracts using spring and flowers for inspiration.
“I was painting, painting and painting,” says Marcia, “but at the end of April, I started to feel the isolation. Art is a healing antidote so I would go out by the lake behind my house taking photos of waterlilies, water hyacinth and wild iris.” She also went to her daughter’s camp in the Honey Island Swamp, where she could see the many colors reflected in the Pearl River. “Twilight on the bayou is breathtaking.” Thus, the Honey Island Series was created. Marcia has always been connected to and inspired by waterways, reflections and the fauna flowing within the water. “Nature and water’s essence are the source of life and continue to inspire my work in pastel, oil and mixed media. >>
