Art Exhibition at The Forum Norwich: A Showcase of Local Talent

Well, the day is almost here, just one day until the exhibition opens. Nerves are kicking in, excitement is bubbling, and the never-ending list of “To-Do” is… well never-ending.

Ultimately I am so looking forward to the weekend; and to exhibiting my work in The Forum which also just happens to be a prime public location in Norwich. It houses the BBC and The Millenium Library and food outlets Pizza Express and Cafe Bar Marzano and has some essential and free public WC facilities!

I am very excited to be exhibiting with 13 other amazingly talented artists, all of who have grown their artistic skills and are producing works with such talent, most of which have never exhibited in a public space before. Check out some of their Instagram pages here:

@atsumiart

@sineadvincent_artist

@robertfordham42

@artist_mandy_slater

@janeroundartist

@david.read.art

@jenniepalmer18

@littlem40.at.no.5a

Here is a sneak peek of my work, in postcard form, that will be on show over the weekend. All work will be available at the show, and afterwards in the shop.

White Daisy flower on an abstracted painted surface
Petals Through Time : Natures Graffiti – Postcard
black background showing multicoloured painted details of an abstracted nature.
Same But Different 1 – Postcard
White Daisy flower on an abstracted painted surface
Petals Through Time : Natures Graffiti – Postcard
Red Orange Yellow background with painted yellow flowers, green stems and a Black and Yellow Bee
Same But Different 2 Bee – Postcard
Orange background with Flower showing Yellow centre and white and cream petals with some green leaf detail
Kiss you in the Garden – Postcard
Dark Green background with pinks and yellows in an abstract form to give the idea of flowers and leaves
Forbidden – Postcard
White Daisy flower on an abstracted painted surface
Petals Through Time : Natures Graffiti – Postcard
Bee painted in watercolour on a textured white pa
Cherished – Postcard
White Daisy flower on an abstracted painted surface
Petals Through Time : Natures Graffiti – Postcard
Blue gradients leading into orange, to give the idea of an abstracted seascape
Summer on my Mind – Postcard
Brown and green background with multiple green stems with flowers of yellow centre and white downturned petals
Flowers never bend with the rainfall – Postcard
Red Orange Yellow background with painted yellow flowers, green stems and a Black and Yellow Bee
Same But Different 1 Bee – Postcard
White Daisy flower on an abstracted painted surface
Petals Through Time : Natures Graffiti – Postcard
Beach scene showing rainbow sky with Beach hut and promenade with railings
Making Memories – Postcard
black background showing multicoloured painted details of an abstracted nature.
Same But Different 2 abstract – Postcard
green background with three green stems with flowers that have yellow centre and white petals.
Maybe in flowers we’ll stray – Postcard
Green background with Pink flowers and white line details
I can buy myself flowers – Postcard
White Daisy flower on an abstracted painted surface
Petals Through Time : Natures Graffiti – Postcard
White Daisy flower on an abstracted painted surface
Petals Through Time : Natures Graffiti – Postcard

This exhibition rounds up my art journey with Art Academy East. It has been a good journey, I’ve learnt a lot and made some great friends along the way. But now it’s time to branch away and look in new directions for my creative outlets. Watch this space I have so many ideas bubbling away, this is not the end of my art career.

So thank you for all your support and encouragement, and here is to a great weekend and many more in the future!

Donna x

Art Exhibition 5-7th July 2024, The Forum

The next exhibition is just around the corner, I am frantically preparing the work for it, this time however it’s a little different. This time, it will be our end-of-course / celebration of achievement exhibition.

Art Academy East Level 4 Students are a group of 15 artists, who will be showcasing our projects at the Forum in Norwich on the 5th, 6th & 7th of July 2024. Entry is free and open to the public.

The following are my artworks that will be on display, and available to purchase.

A tall Orange Panel with yellow painted flower and blue painted flowers and green stems, and a Bee flying to the yellow flower
Abstracted Red Orange Panel with a Bee and Daisies
A brightly colour tall rectangle with black background and lots of bright colour marks ontop
Abstracted Black Panel in Mixed Media
A tall Orange Panel with painted flowers of yellow petals and green stems, and a Bee flying to a flower
Abstracted Red Orange Panel with a Bee and Daisies
A brightly colour tall rectangle with black background and lots of bright colour marks ontop
Abstracted Black Panel in Mixed Media
A painted sketchbook page, showing an effect of brown pait with flowers of White petals and yellow pollen centre
Ox-Eye Daisies
An image showing a green background with pink and yellow flowers and scribble marks
Abstract Pink Flowers
A square of orange with a Daisy painted on top
Ox-Eye Daisy
A square of green paint with three white flowers with yellow centres and green stalks with leaves
Ox-Eye Daisies
A rectangle showing two colours, split across the middle from top to bottom, top half in Blue and Bottom half in Orange. Depicting an abstracted beach scene
Abstracted Beach Scene
An image showing a Bumble Bee painted in Watercolour on White Handmade paper
Bumblebee
Image showing two hexagonal ceramic pots, with a deep orange glaze depicting a yellow flower on one and a bee on the other.
Ceramic Vase and Trinket Pot
A watercolour painting showing colourful beach huts, sky and promenade and each.
Beach Huts
an image showing 7 small hexagons, arranged as one large hexagon, all painted with brightly colour florals abstract images.
Petals through Time : Natures Graffiti 1 to 7

I hope that you will be able to make it to the exhibition, it will be wonderful to see you.

5th-7th July 2024 Art Exhibition, At The Forum Norwich, Celebration of Achievement of Level 4 Students of Art Academy East.

A Trip to the Library

I can hardly believe it but today, it’s official – I am a published writer! In an official printed magazine! An art magazine that people buy for their enjoyment! Not only that but I have a 4-page spread with my ACTUAL words on it, in print, in a magazine that people can hold in their hands, a magazine that they have paid money to read!

I’ve been waiting to see it in print before I said anything because I didn’t believe that it was happening, that the words I wrote, submitted, and had multiple conversations about, actually would go out in print – but they did, they are and they are in a magazine!

Image gallery image
Image gallery image
Image gallery image
Image gallery image

It arrived on my doorstep today. I was out having coffee with a wonderful friend, having a lovely catch-up and a laugh. I even talked about the article with her and said I was waiting for the print. I can’t believe it was at home waiting for me all that time! On my return, my husband said “You have post” and from that point on, well I became a little incoherent and more than a little squeaky. To say I was excited was an understatement. But honestly to say that I am proud of ME. I wrote an article, and it’s in print, and people will read it.

So, thank you Art etc Magazine, thank you for taking a chance on me and giving me space to talk, I hope I make you and your readers proud.

And yes I realise this is a pretty lame post but – I’m excited! I did a thing and I’m excited, I did a thing and I’m proud of myself, I did a thing and my husband is proud of me (Yes I know he was anyway but well, this is exciting) !!

Oh and can I just say, that my profile picture – was taken by my amazing photographer husband Rob. He is used to taking images of moving cars on a racetrack, he had to readjust and take an image, of me standing still. Isn’t he clever, give him a look on Instagram too and see for yourself!

Last day of College!

Well, this is it, after 3 years, today will be the very last day of attending Art Academy East Art College for a dedicated learning experience in Art and Design.

an image showing 7 small hexagons, arranged as one large hexagon, all painted with brightly colour florals abstract images.
Petals through Time : Natures Graffiti 1 to 7

I have enjoyed my time here, learnt so much and made some great friends. There have been ups and downs, highs and lows, laughter and tears and the stress I have put myself under to complete projects, has been unreal! But would I change any of it – No – not a bit. To have been in the company of a group of adults for 3 years, all there for the same reason, to learn has been fantastic. I can’t put a price on the learning experience in the same room as other like-minded people.

My 3 years may be ending today in class, but we will be gathering again to exhibit our final projects in July, There will be free-standing painted panels, ceramics, and hanging canvases. Many of the items will be on sale.

The Exhibition will be at The Forum Norwich on 5th, 6th & 7th July 2024.

Image showing two hexagonal ceramic pots, with a deep orange glaze depicting a yellow flower on one and a bee on the other.
Ceramic Vase and Trinket Pot

After this, there are no plans to take another in-person paid course, at this time, but never say never! I do however have many many many paid online courses that have sat around gathering internet dust that I might be able to dedicate some time to. I would like to get back to making art for pleasure rather than for coursework, which will allow me to continue my art growth journey to becoming a regularly selling artist.

“The last day at college sparks the beginning of my artistic adventures”

Donna Holmes 2024

So please do mark your diaries and come along to the Forum, on 5, 6, & 7th July to see our final project works, we will all be there too ready to chat with visitors to the show.

Art Exhibition 30th May – 7th June 2024

I have been busy gathering works ready for an exhibition taking place in Holt Norfolk from Thursday 30th May to Friday 7th June at Kings Court Care Home, Holt.

The exhibition is open to the public between noon and 5pm, entrance is free, refreshments such as tea, coffee, juices and pastries are available in the community cafe. Artworks from a number of local artists will be on show, including photographs, paintings, sculpture and jewellery, with 10% of any sale proceeeds going to Norfolk Charity, The Black Dog Music Project. This charity helps people with disabilities to access music sessions, where main stream access isnt available for them.

I am submitting several small pieces of work, that feature Nature and Seascapes in watercolours or acrylics. I have watercolours featuring Cromer, Overstrand and Mundesley. Acrylics featuring floral elements, tulips, poppies and abstracted flowers too.

an image showing several framed and canvas paintings, of seascapes and floral works by the artist Donna Holmes

I am excited to be supporting this exhibition. The facility, opened just 5 weeks ago, cares for residents with various stages of dementia. A condition close to my heart as my own Nan suffered with multiple forms, and in my work life at the library, I support a monthly Dementia Cafe and we have a lovely group of people that come along for the social aspects as well as the crafts, reminisicing and tea and biscuits!

I would like to think that my art will bring some joy to the residents and remind them of happy times at the coast.

If you are in the neighbourhood, please do drop by and take a look.

Thursday 30th May – Friday 7th June 12 noon – 5pm, Kings Court Care Home, Hempstead Road, Holt NR25 6DQ