WEB SITE IS UP!

So yeah, this is my first website that has been finished and I am ready to share with the world: www.vanholmgren.com &/OR www.vanimalfarm.com
Check it out, cool stuff, bleh!

final week/weekend of my show!

This is the final five five days of my show at the INSTINCT GALLERY at the Des Moines Social Club at 1408 Locust downtown.
I marked all of my paintings down 25% off of an already originally discounted price!
my 6 foot tall/wide painting is actually 50% off.

It turned out to be a great show, great turnout!
I produced all of the paintings within the gallery (13 pieces) in one month, which was a feat itself, crazy such.

Anyways, taking photos of the work and applying it to my NEW website, so stay tuned!

CONNOR HARRINGTON ARTIST

Always have loved this guy's work, Connor Harrington rocks out with drawings and graffiti.

My Bike!

I got this bike for practically nothing. I traded some art for it. I believe it is a 1970's women's Schwinn World Tourist series. Yeah, it is a ladies bike, and I am fine with it. It is how I get around this fair city of Des Moines day-to-day, so efficient. This is a picture of it with a Shakespearian character on it, this event just kind of happened on a wonderful Saturday, it is a long story. I did not properly dis-assemble it and paint it the right way (primer>paint>protective coating) but I will the next time I do it. The green color is a Montana brand spray paint, applied it by taping the non-paint parts off with plastic bags and painters tape. It did not turn out that bad for a lazy job.

WOW. It has been a long time since I have remembered to put something important up here. Probably because I have been transitioning my life from full-time student to full-time artist/designer/illustrator. I have found a great job and niche in Des Moines at a company named SMASH. The Des Moines Art Festival was surprisingly interesting this year. Many of the previous years had left me asking myself "why?" to some of the people that were featured. The emerging artists section is usually my favorite, but it seemed there were a few artists that had similar work in that area of the festival. An awesome person found an artist that works with stencils Mark Traughber and purchased a small piece by him for me (how sweet), thank you. I really feel that I should get in there next year. It is pretty high traffic and there would be a lot of exposure. I kinda drew away from the festival circuit in a conscious effort so that I would not gravitate towards making work that was universally pleasing for everyone, it's not my thing. My co-worker and good friend Stefan Hansen has agreed to work on my website, finally, after me taking about it for the past two years. Having a website is impressive to many gallery owners and collectors, so it is much needed. It feels like now is the time to get one, being that I am finished with school. We bought the domain name to www.vanholmgren.com and www.vanimal.com, both names will go to the same page. I will be posting some new work once it is done, I am flying low and just taking everything in before I attempt to put mind to canvas/work.

Michelle Holley at Instinct Gallery // Des Moines

There is a great show going on at the Instinct Gallery this coming Friday in Des Moines! My friend Michelle Holley's opening will be happening, so come on out!

Show Going up at Barnes & Noble in WDSM

JUST FINISHED A NEW PIECE TO GO UP AT A SMALL SHOW I AM HAVING AT THE BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSTORE IN WEST DES MOINES (THE ONE BY MACARONI GRILL AND ROCK BOTTOM BREWERY)
IT SHOULD BE FUN, CINDY THE PR LADY SAID THEY WILL HAVE A LOT OF TRAFFIC OVER THE WEEKEND DUE TO BOOK SIGNINGS. YOU SHOULD ADD TO THAT FOOT TRAFFIC AND STOP OUT, YOU COULD EVEN GRAB A BOOK! SOMEONE MENTIONED "THE TIME TRAVELLER'S WIFE" TO ME THE OTHER DAY, SAID I WOULD PROBABLY LIKE IT, I DON NOT LIKE BEING PREDICTABLE... BUT I'LL GET IT. THESE PAINTINGS THERE ARE GOING TO BE WAY CHEAP ALSO, SO THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO GET SOMETHING DONE BY ME IN YOU HOME!

Practicing New Drawings

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HERE ARE SOME PRACTICE DRAWINGS I AM DOING TO SEE WHERE THIS NEW PROCESS I AM TRYING WILL GO. I AM ALSO TRYING TO DEVELOP A GOOD WAY TO FRAME THEM AS WELL AS MAKE PRINTS OR EVEN ENLARGE THEM.
HERE ARE TWO OF THEM, BUT I HAVE ABOUT EIGHT MORE SCATTERED AROUND DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. BOTH ARE MADE WITH CHEAP BLICK ILLUSTRATION MARKERS AND SHARPIE BLACK.

PHOTOS OF SMASH PAINTINGS // OPENING

THESE ARE JUST SOME PHOTOS OF THE ART I HAVE DISPLAYED AT SMASH IN THE EAST VILLAGE OF DES MOINES.
THE SHOW WILL BE UP FOR TWO MONTHS
THE OPENING WAS GREAT, A REAL GOOD TURN OUT
I ALSO SOLD 13 OF THE LIMITED EDITION T-SHIRTS I DESIGNED!
STOP ON OUT IF HAVE NOT YET!
THANKS :)

ASSEMBLAGE SHOW // Instinct Gallery

Here is a show that I am in.
Opening is Saturday April 18th from 7-11pm.
FREE to the public!
foods...drinks...music by Dig Aggnes + more.
Check out more at INSTINCT GALLERY des moines.
The Des Moines Social Club.

Instinct Gallery proudly presents 'ASSEMBLAGE'. Artists working in found objects, mixed media and collage. Artists include:
Rachel Buse : Anna C.F. : Van Holmgren : Brent Houzenga : JeffZ: Amy Putney Koenig : Sheri Michaels : Bret Miller : MILK : Jonathan Pearson : Terry Rathje : Nathan Roberts : Amy Wendt : and many more!

Featuring music by the Dig Angees and Johnny Scum!

1408 Locust in downtown Des Moines!

ADAM SCHMIDT ILLUSTRATION

stumbled across a great illustrator!
vibrant colors and sharp drawing lines!

Show at SMASH GAllery April 4th thru June 4th

THIS IS FOR MY NEW SHOW:

"THE BLUE SERIES & THE GLORIOUS UN-WED"
THE ARTWORK OF VAN HOLMGREN
THE SMASH GALLERY
OPENING RECEPTION APRIL 4TH
CLOSING RECEPTION JUNE 6TH

come on out for great new work!