Hollis Dunlap, a Vermont-born artist, crafts portraits that blend painted realism and sculptural concepts and abstractions. These oil paintings can appear as distorted photographs, yet hidden within these textured backgrounds and surprising hues are several hidden decisions and possibilities. Hollis started painting when he was 14, studying strictly realism before developing this current style.
“My work is a mix of precise drawing but with more contemporary color and experimental brush marks,” Dunlap says. “I attempt to get a sense of sculptural form in my paintings, dramatic light effects, and geometric backgrounds that may hint at landscapes or interior spaces. I am interested in certain elements of non representational painting, such as paint texture and color harmony, and I try to bring a sense of geometric design to realist work.”
Dunlap attended Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, and later, was the first painter to be awarded the first prize at the National Arts Club student exhibition for two years in a row. The artist has had solo shows in New York City, San Francisco, Boston, and other spots. Later this year, his work will be shown in a solo show at Sirona Fine Art in Miami.