Hollie Spain

Driven by a lifelong obsession with visual language and human anatomy, I am a contemporary, self-taught figurative artist specializing in oil painting. My artistic journey began at age five, sketching roadside billboards and signs from memory. This early hyper-fixation with form and text evolved during my high school years into a deep fascination with the human face and a relentless pursuit of perfect anatomical proportions.
As a completely self-taught painter, my studio is built on thousands of hours of quiet, independent experimentation. After teaching myself the mechanics of blending, light, and color theory using acrylics, a transformative shift occurred when I discovered oil paint. The rich textures and slow blending capabilities completely captured my artistic spirit, allowing me to master everything from bold, expressive palette knife work to precise, academic realism and plein air painting.
My work serves as both a processing mechanism and an anchor through life’s intense transitions. Navigating a childhood of profound isolation, the traumas of early loss, and later, the joyful but consuming demands of raising four children, painting has consistently remained my "one thing"—my ultimate escape and emotional outlet. Currentl...

Beginner art class in high-school
2D drawing class in high-school
Art Appreciation class in college (Texas Tech University)