My paintings are done with the idea of painting what I see. I place the things on my shelf and begin. I spend quite a while getting the set up the way I want it. Then I study the set up with pencil and paper. At first I only see the general but the more time I spend looking the more there is to see. Its is obvious but fascinating for me. It feels like an important lesson I am teaching myself over and over. There is more to see. The finished painting is fascinating product but a heighten awarness is a nice reward.

I think about balance while I work. I work the general and the specific, light and dark, warm and cool, this and that. Many dichotomies appear, back and forth. The extended moment of making and the frozen moment of looking. Somehow can I capture the pleasurable sensation of an eye opening to what is being seen. The moment of awakening.

-John Holdway