Category: News

Oil on panel

For me this scene is evocative of the enticing streets and hallways that abound throughout Italian towns where historical architecture and the simple charm of daily life meet. So many passages entice me to photograph not just a snapshot of the moment but to linger and capture its colors in the best light. I’ve spent many slow hours walking in all weather turning left and right the second something catches my eye. It may be a wide shot or the simple detail of color and shadow. Those moments are captured on film and stored on a memory card in my brain to be recreated as an oil painting.  Tra Ombre e Luce represents one of those moments. 

Oil on panel

Palette knife painting

16×12 / 50x40cm

$175.

Introducing I Colori dell’Italia—a new photography exhibition which celebrates the colors, textures, and everyday beauty of Italy. From sun-warmed walls and weathered shutters to quiet architectural details, the collection captures the character of places where history and daily life meet my memories. I hope each photograph invites you to pause and discover its vivid beauty and texture in an ordinary moment. These images represent a lifetime of walking through the streets and country lanes of Italy, a place I got to know when I worked there moving around from north to south and east to west. I became familiar with it colors and contours, its sounds and silences, its flavors became familiar as the echoes of its language which represents so many memories for me now. I thought it was time to revisit these memories with this collection which is just a small selection of my observations over the years.

Signed, framed prints are available to purchase for $175. Plus shipping.

This one-of-a-kind accent light is handcrafted from richly figured black walnut, preserving the wood’s dramatic natural edge, deep grain, and organic imperfections as it illuminates its mountainous contours. Measuring 20 × 16 inches and 2.5 inches thick, its sculptural silhouette evokes a rugged mountain landscape, while concealed warm LED lighting creates a soft golden glow highlighting its unique shape. Both functional lighting and original wood art, this distinctive piece brings warmth, texture, and character to any room. A great gift for mountain climbers.

$475. Plus shipping.

Handcrafted Resin Tray

A new design for this handcrafted 16 × 10-inch serving tray with pasta set in clear epoxy resin.  I’ve made several uniquely designed epoxy resin trays now and no two trays are ever exactly alike. They are truly one-of-a-kind designed to be both functional and decorative.  The perfect conversation starter and a memorable gift for pasta lovers, cooks, or anyone who appreciates imaginative artisan design.

The warmth of Apple Wood

12×9″

I love working with apple wood and watching it develop from a log to firewood to a beautiful warm piece of sculpted wood. By splitting the log naturally with an axe I follow ithe grain rather than forcing it, and allowing the character of the tree to help determine the final form.

This hand-carved piece emerged as a simple, organic shape: strong and grounded at its base, then rising into a smooth, gently curving form. I’ve deliberately retained some of the natural marks, grain and imperfections of the wood, allowing its history to remain visible.

The warm tones of the apple wood change beautifully with the light, revealing subtle variations in color and texture as you move around the piece. For me, it sits somewhere between landscape and figure — abstract enough to allow you to decide what you see.

Hand-carved apple wood. One of a kind.

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A Private Conversation (Graphite on Paper)

I’ve always been drawn to the quiet elegance of Sandhill Cranes. There is something about their posture, height, and their graceful movements, the way they seem so completely at ease with one another that made me stop and watch them when I lived in Northern Florida.

For this illustration, I wanted to keep the composition and outline simple to let the beauty of the birds speak for itself. Working in graphite allowed me to focus on the subtle changes in light, the softness of their feathers, and the strong, graceful lines that make Sandhill Cranes so distinctive. I especially enjoyed capturing the different poses—one standing tall and confident, the other turning with a gentle curiosity—as they seemed to tell a story without needing any background or distractions.

To me, Sandhill Cranes represent grace and dignity, absolute patience, and  quiet strength found in their  lifestyle.  My hope is that this drawing brings a sense of peace and reminds you to appreciate those calm moments in nature that often leave the deepest impression.

Notecards Available $6 plus postage. Email: hollowellstudios@gmail.com

Graphite on paper

This dynamic pencil drawing captures a fleeting moment of survival in the natural world. A powerful Bald Eagle descends from above with wings fully extended, its razor-sharp talons reaching toward a fleeing rabbit in a dramatic display of speed, precision, and instinct. The sweeping arc of the eagle’s wings dominates the composition, conveying both the grace and immense power of North America’s iconic raptor. I used to photograph these magnificent birds in Washington State, sometimes getting close on cliff tops as they perched high in the fir trees.

This drawing is rendered entirely in graphite, using careful shading and fine textural detail to distinguish the eagle’s layered feathers, piercing gaze, and muscular form. In contrast, the small rabbit, frozen in mid-flight, emphasizes the tension between predator and prey, highlighting the relentless balance of nature.

The generous white space surrounding the figures heightens the sense of movement, allowing the viewer to imagine the chase continuing beyond the page. Rather than depicting the moment of capture, I focused on the anticipation—the split second when instinct, speed, and survival converge.

The result is a study of wildlife that celebrates both the majesty of the Bald Eagle and the drama inherent in the natural world.

Graphite on Paper

This graphite drawing captures a quiet moment from the smaller natural world. A purposeful ladybug stealthily clings to the stem of a plant while a small insect make its way unaware of its predator, creating a subtle narrative of intentional coexistence. Rendered with delicate shading and careful attention to form, the composition draws attention to the outlines often overlooked in everyday encounters with insects.

The subtle monochromatic pencil lines allow the textures of the insects and the plant stem to emerge with remarkable clarity, inviting the viewer to pause and appreciate the intricate elegance of natures insect world.