D.E. HOLSINGER

Oils	Website: E-mail: deholsinger@verizon.net

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Donnie Holsinger was raised west of Richmond,VA in Henrico County.  After a year of classes at Longwood College, Donnie transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University and took a drawing class along with his business curriculum.  Inspired by the energy and excitement of instructor Frank Heller (VCU, BFA) and his success at rendering subjects, Donnie applied to and was accepted by the school of the arts.

 After completing the art foundation program and submitting a portfolio for review, Donnie was accepted into the highly selective Communication Arts & Design Department at VCU.  Concentrating in illustration, Donnie found Professor Robert Foster (Syracuse, MFA) extremely valuable in developing his painting skills and techniques.  Bob introduced Donnie to the classic illustrators of the Golden Age and emphasized the traditional aspects of these illustrations.  Illustration is simply fine art which meets the parameters of the client.    

He was considered innovative by his peers by implementing traditional fine art painting techniques with his illustration assignments.  While most students were employing popular techniques such as Prisma colored pencil on illustration board, Donnie was employing oil and alkyd painted canvases. 

While a student Donnie’s work was published in Richmond Arts Magazine, and his work was accepted into the Communication Arts & Design Juried Exhibition.  After graduating with his BFA degree, he moved to the family farm in the Shenandoah Valley and began free-lance illustrating.  His clients include Apex Insurance, Lowe’s Corporation, Stihl Chainsaws and the New Market Battlefield Military Museum.

Donnie has pushed his fine art paintings to the forefront.  His subjects reflect his interest in history, architecture, nature, the outdoors, and travel.  He personalizes each painting with a mood captured in the present, reflected in memories, or often a combination of both. Donnie’s work is inspired by artists such as Edward Hopper, Howard Pyle, and the three generations of Wyeth’s.  Recently, the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist periods have become more significant in Donnie’s work. 

Several of his paintings were recently purchased and are on display in Shenandoah Memorial Hospital, and his drawings are in the collection of the New Market Military Museum.  His medium of choice is oil and he works on canvas or board. His subjects consist of scenes which express a subtle vintage mood and unique composition.  His work has been exhibited in galleries locally in Richmond, Staunton, Warrenton, and Mt. Jackson.