Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Nowak.
Holly, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always been an artist. Since I was a child I have scribbled, doodled, painted or drawn something every day. I didn’t take a direct path to becoming a professional artist.
In 2004 when our children were 2 and 4 years old I decided that it would be the right time to create an art business and become a professional artist. I had no business background only untoned talent and a lot of drive. I started small and in hindsight, I was creatively all over the place.
As hard as I tried hat I was trying to do was slowed down by so many things happening in my life at that time. I can remember painting a mural with my newborn sleeping in a carrier against my chest. I’ve always had determination, that’s never been an issue.
Shortly after beginning what I hoped would be the start of my art career my husband lost his job. I became a Realtor at the urging of family members who owned a local real estate company.
They thought I’d make a great Realtor. Fast forward ten years. I was a really good Realtor but I was miserable. I worked hard building a real estate business for ten years and put my dreams of being a professional artist on the shelf. Eight years into my real estate career I began adding art back into my life. I knew I couldn’t just quit my career as a Realtor but I knew I HAD to pursue my dream. Being an artist is who I am and the call to be my authentic self was becoming too strong. I did everything I could for two years to get my feet wet again in the art world.
I painted, I practiced, I experimented with every medium, I did small art jobs, I took a 4-day vision quest to the canyons of Caprock in the Texas Panhandle and found myself! I submitted my work into juried shows and outdoor markets and was accepted as an artist at First Saturdays Art Market in The Heights. I met so many great artists who answered a million questions I had and offered advice. I was accepted into a Gallery in Galveston, Affaire d’ Art and gained so much knowledge. I began showing work in the gift shop of The Bryan Museum in Galveston. I gained Collectors and started teaching small art classes to children out of my garage which we converted into a wonderful studio space!
For two years I gained so much knowledge. I realized that I had been very bitter about losing ten years to a career that kept me from doing what I wanted. It kept me from being an artist. However, after ten years I realized all of those things that took me away from my early attempts to be an artist did me a huge favor, it taught me how to run a business. Those ten years allowed me to meet people who would become very important in my growth as an artist. It toughened me up.
It taught me how to have an incredible work ethic, meet and talk with people, collectors, business/gallery owners, how to find my voice as an artist. How to run a business. You can be an artist but if you want to be a professional artist as a career you have to know how to run your business and so many other things I never dreamed of when I started off in 2004. Now I don’t feel like I lost ten years to a career that wasn’t me. I understand I was being prepared for this wonderful journey as an artist. Since 2014 I have really found my voice and I am still finding that voice and growing every day.
One thing I’ve come to realize is that the creation of art does not just make me happy but it makes others happy. That has become a real focus for me. I started at a kitchen table, slowly took over an extra bedroom, then I was able to create a proper studio in my garage. Just this April I moved into what I call my big girl studio! I now have a real artist studio at Winter Street Studios in Houstons Historic Arts District. I love having the studio at home just steps from my back door. That is where I can be close to my family and where I teach art lessons twice a week to kids.
Each summer I also teach art camps there. However, my studio at Winter Street is a dream come true. I finally have space to display finished pieces on a gallery wall as well as a space to create large pieces of art and make big messes! I can meet with collectors and will begin teaching art classes for adults in my studio in June. I’ve come a long way and I’ve learned many lessons. Everything that has happened along my journey so far has brought me to where I am today.
The good, the bad, the ugly. It was all necessary and I have to pinch myself and smile at all love overcome, all I’ve worked so hard for and to see it all coming together is very comforting. Georgia O’Keeffe said, “I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life – and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.” I’m not terrified anymore> I see how far I’ve come and all I’ve overcome and I feel peace. Peace and trust in my journey, confidence that I can do whatever my heart commands and that even if the road is a bumpy one I can not only overcome those obstacles but also inspire others along the way.
Has it been a smooth road?
Life itself and all the things that can happen to derail us daily from our goals and dreams are the biggest struggle.
The worst struggle of all is our own mind. We tell ourselves the most awful things about ourselves. Things we would never say to other people, negative and unproductive things. One of the things I work on daily and teach my students and my own kids is to be kind. Be kind to others and to yourself. This is a journey we are on and negative thinking only slows you down. I see it like this…
Each day we wake up with challenges and obstacles. We have to decide how to tackle those challenges. Whether you have a good attitude and confidence or whether you decide to be negative those obstacles will be there. It is a lot more difficult to tackle that challenges and obstacles with a negative attitude than it is a positive one. I can also guarantee you’ll find a lot more people willing to help you when you are willing to work hard and have a good attitude. When I fall into bed each night I want to feel accomplished.
I want to know I did everything I could that day. I don’t have time to beat myself up. The world does a pretty good job of that, we don’t need to offer it any help. Be kind. Work hard. Have a dream. Have goals. Make a plan. Learn to just the journey when your well thought out plan goes out the window. Last, prepare yourself everyday for opportunities of greatness. One day when opportunity knocks, and it will, it feels so damn good to be prepared to jump!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I started off painting, anything and everything. Over the years I have come to realize it is important to decide who you are as an artist. For me, it is certainly my Texas roots.
Holly Nowak is a 4th generation Texan who you will find creating her works of art from her two studios. Her home studio is located just north of Houston just steps from her back door. Her professional studio space is located in Houston at Winter Street Studios which is located in Houston’s Historic Arts District. Holly is a representational artist whose work is first and foremost informed by her deep roots in the broad Texas landscape. The sense of peace she feels in nature is evident in her quiet yet bold compositions. Holly often uses a texture or vintage architectural elements to convey a nostalgic connection to history, which speaks to her profound respect for her ancestral heritage.
Holly proudly traces her lineage through many generations of strong women who have come before her, as well as those who have surrounded her in her own lifetime. To their long-standing traditions, Holly adds her own brand of adventurousness with her untamable spirit. She loves to experiment, always searching for a new twist to her explorations of subject matter and media. This is what truly brings her work to life. At her home studio, Holly teaches art to children and adults three days a week. She has carefully curated her space into a creative sanctuary, surrounded by lush gardens and a variety of animal life, including her beloved chickens. She is passionate about sharing with others her artistic talents and the inspiration this space brings to her.
Holly’s work has been widely recognized throughout the state of Texas and beyond. She has avid collectors across the country, as far away as Colorado and Utah, Maryland and Chicago. In addition to showing at many Houston-area art festivals and exhibitions, she is currently featured at the Bryan Museum in Galveston and has been selected two years in a row as the winner of the Dripping Springs Vodka Texas Wildlife Label Contest. She also enjoys completing customized artwork on a commission basis.
I work in oils, acrylics and watercolor. I like to use found architectural elements often in my work. In the last couple of years, I’ve discovered that people really feel happy and open up to me when either taking a class or purchasing a piece of my art. I enjoy the fact that they feel comfortable and open and actually grow while taking a class by not only discovering their hidden talents but also discovering things about themselves. It’s always a really cool process to watch unfold in my studio.
Most of my Collectors tell me they are drawn to me or to a particular piece of my art because of something personal to them. When they share those stories we have a connection. My art becomes part of their story. That is such an honor and so special for me. My art is very personal to me and I love when it becomes personal to others. Their story of why they were drawn to my art is different than why I created it but we share a common bound in that piece of art.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I am a 4th generation Texan and a Native Houstonian. I love Houston! I am inspired by the world around me. When I started I had so many questions! One thing I’ve learned when I started out is that all professional artists have had to work as hard as I have. I respect that immensely.
Not everyone is willing to answer your questions or help you figure things out. However, I have found more helpful artists and business owners than unhelpful ones. My advice? Be professional. Don’t waste anyone’s time. Prepare your questions and respect peoples time. Take advice and criticism equally well then do your own thing. Find your voice as an artist! What matters to you? Who are you? Where do you come from and what inspires you? That is where you will find your voice.
Practice and find your own style! Surround yourself with artists who are hardworking and successful. Be professional and learn how to run a business. You can be a wonderful artist but if you can’t run your own business you probably won’t go too far as a professional artist. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and do what you can as you learn and grow to thank those that help you. The art scene in Houston is amazing and only growing.
I am happy and honored to be on this creative journey with all the other artists in Houston! I want to tell my story visually and share a little bit of my Texas/Houston roots with others through my art. If I can inspire others along the way that is icing on the cake!
Pricing:
- My work ranges from $65 to $4000 for large custom commission pieces
- Most watercolor pieces Range from $95 to $500 depending on the size
- Average size sold is in the $400 to $2000 range
Contact Info:
- Address: 3643 Red Oak Branch Ln
- Website: www.hollynowakfineart.com
- Phone: 832-233-6068
- Email: holly@hollynowakfineart.com
- Instagram: @hollynowakart
- Facebook: Holly Nowak Fine Art
- Twitter: Holly Nowak Fine Art @ nowakfineart
- Other: Etsy HomegrownStudiosArt
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
