Commissioning and purchasing artwork
Commissioning and purchasing artwork
I have been creating artwork for most of my life but, it wasn’t until I appeared on the BBC show “Home is where the art is” hosted by Nick Knowles, that I really decided to make art my career and start selling my artwork. I discovered the TV show through a social media post. Someone kindly shared a link to the post - It said “the BBC are looking for Northern Artists to be involved in an Art program get in touch here”. I got in touch and to my delight, they were interested in involving me on the show. The basic concept was I go up against two other artists where we pitch, create, and compete to make a piece of art for a potential buyer. It was such a fascinating surreal experience, being mic'd up and talking to Nick Knowles about my Art on camera. I enjoyed every second of it. Once the show aired, I was inundated with enquires about my work and commissions, it has truly changed my life and my career.
Most people find me now online at my website and which details how to contact me and how to buy or commission a piece.
I currently have two permanent public works on display. A rearing full-scale horse at Cheltenham Racecourse and a Family of wild boars at Mother Shiptons Cave Knaresborough.
I also currently have some work at Newby Hall’s Sculpture trail this year based in North Yorkshire and I am listed on the following online Galleries:
For commissions it is best for people to get in touch with me via email or phone - for more information see my “How to Commission me” Blog post.
I come up with most of my ideas for my artwork through drawing and spending time alone in the studio playing with materials and forms. However, I do have to say I do find looking at past works and old sketchbooks instrumental and inspiring. One idea can spark another which I find fascinating. With any idea, a good drawing is best as it allows you to flesh it out of your head and analyze it further and decide if it's still good. It also allows you to think about how to make it and finalize dimensions and scales. I Historically, I would make a small model prior to making the original but now I have more confidence to go straight from sketch to making the piece. Over time I’ve found doing this saves so much time and frees up my creativity to work instinctively. One exception to this rule is if I’m developing a new method or experimenting with using materials in a different way. For this I do still make smaller models and samples before launching in. From start to finish, depending on the scale and complexity of a piece, it generally takes me between 2 to 3 months to create and make a medium size piece. Most of my wall sculptures are one-off commissions as each one is uniquely bespoke, but I do have some bronze editions and plaster on steel wall sculpture editions currently available.
Contact me for more information.
Ollie Holman