Arts in Atlanta: Greg Holliday

What emotions drive the creation of your art?
Daily life inspires me most - a sunny day, the seasons, a shadow cast upon a sidewalk. I get excited by love of life. Meeting someone new. Experiencing a new adventure. The anticipation of trying something new. Even a down moment, while challenging, can be inspiring. I have had my share of those but I dive into the paints and the result on canvas is always something spectacular. Bright and bold rather than dark.

What experiences led you to become an artist?
I carry a lot of “stuff” around in my head. I am very visual and appreciate beautiful things and like to capture that. I have always felt like I can accomplish anything but I may not always be in a place to do everything I would like to do. So, that energy has to come out somewhere. The bigger the canvas the better and the energy flows.

When did you make the decision to be an artist?
I guess I have always been an artist. A talent I inherited from my father and grandmother. I have always been creative. Drawing houses and floor plans for my friends when I was a kid. Building things. Creating always. I finally put all of that on canvas about 15 years ago.



Is your art goal-oriented?
Sometimes yes. I do not always have an end result in mind because my work progresses as I get more involved with the brush. Many times I am happily surprised by the outcome and when it turns out better than I expected well, that is amazing! I work well under pressure though and if I have a project I need to complete my best work comes right before the deadline.

What are you passionate about?
Life. Love. Music. People. Animals. Being healthy. Relationships. Meeting new people. Faith. Friends. Family. Design. The earth. Oh...and ART of course!

How would you describe yourself?
Loyal. Loving. Happy. Open minded. A shoulder. Enthusiastic. Creative. A best friend. A great son and even better grandson. An AWESOME uncle! Someone who is willing to take chances on life experiences and people.



What artistic challenges do you face?
To do more...and have the luxury of time for that.


What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned as an artist?
Less is more. This applies to many things in life.


What’s your proudest artistic achievement?.
Completing a random piece of art that impacted someone greatly and still does to this day. And...a current painting hanging at Decatur Gallery.

What artists have influenced you most and why?
Rothko, DeKooning, Pollock, Helen Frankenthaler for their large works, incredible color and often disturbing past. I can sit in front of a Rothko for hours and get lost in the size and color.





What’s been your best decision?
To put myself out there.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet?
At this moment? Allan Stone

What are you currently reading or listening to?
The New York Times and I’m listening to a beautiful mix of music a friend gave me entitled, “Beyond the Canvas.” Appropriate huh?

Who would you like to trade places with for one day? Why?
No one. Sometimes it takes a long while to get to know yourself...be happy with who you are...love yourself and be comfortable in your own skin. I’m at that place. So I cannot imagine trading places with anyone. However, I can think of many people I would like to walk beside for a day or three.

What dream do you still want to fulfill?
I would like to live in another country and own a farm.

What subject would you like to portray in your art that you have not yet attempted?
My work is very abstract. I do not always have a subject in mind and if I do there are no guarantees that anyone will see it immediately. Once, I was asked to paint Piedmont Park in Atlanta. I did. I’m not sure everyone would see a park when they look at that piece. Sometimes my work becomes a very beautiful accident. This is why I do not always title my art. Everyone has their own interpretation and I think that is quite amazing!

Thank you, Greg.



Greg Holliday is an emerging Atlanta artist who is basically self-taught and whose enthusiasm for life is evident in his radiant, emotional paintings. Greg works in acrylics, oils and wax as well as other media on canvas, paper and panel. He prefers large canvases that showcase the remarkable depth and patina of his paintings. Greg often leaves his work untitled to leave each piece open to the interpretation of the individual viewer. He believes art is very personal. If you would like to see more of Greg's work, please visit the Decatur Market and Gallery on 153 Ponce de Leon Place in Decatur, Georgia or click on the gallery name. If you'd like to meet Greg in person and talk to him about his art, stop by the gallery's New Beginnings: Expressions of Love group show and reception on February 12 from 6-9:00 p.m.


*for Theme Thursday and Creative Therapy