William Holbrook Studio

"Farm Heritage" Giclée Edition on Archival Canvas

2015-06-06T14:21:00.002-05:00

Farm Heritage" of the 'American Memories Series’

This is the multi-generational Bergdale farm near Alcester, South Dakota. I was commissioned to paint this work of art as a keepsake n’ memory of a bringing up the tradition within the Bergdale family of living and working on the farm. This scene is now gone and is now a field. Time passes, but memories should not have to pass because the memories and images hopefully live on through the art. We were fortunate to use some of the siding from this barn to create the frame in which holds the original work of art.

I decided to release a print edition in response to seeing these family heirlooms fade before my eyes to the elements and the growing insensitivities’ of commercial farming indulgences. I always wanted to record the rural life of the past, and I have been finding that in many of the instances within most of my work relating to this subject, it has been the only recorded representations left.

Medium: Produced from the original watercolor painting.

"Over 100 Years" Giclée Canvas Edition

2015-06-06T14:10:00.002-05:00

12" x 18" Giclée Edition on Archival Canvas by Artist William Holbrook

This is a multi-generational farm. This is a century farm belonging to the Knapp family near present day Westfield, Iowa. It is on the national register of historic century farms. I met Mr. Knapp in 1987, three years before my first-born came along. I took a lot of pictures and kept them in a box for a few years before I decided to paint it. By the time I painted this painting Mr. Knapp had passed and the next generation has taken the rains. I painted this farm three times over the years because I simply found this heart-fully nostalgic and I often wandered what it might be like living off such a grand farm. Mr. Knapp told me that his great grandfather and neighbors built this barn in a time when people were still using horses and buggies. I can only imagine them using hand tools to build this fantastic structure. Keep in mind it was designed to be filled to the brim with hay and supplies to last an entire winter, hence its enormous size.

This barn is on of the oldest and well kept in northwest Iowa, and it is absolutely spectacular because of its’ awesome size. I have never since seen such a large barn; especially considering it was built by hand in a long-gone era. I estimate this barn to be almost 65 to 70 feet tall (seven stories). The perspective of the size of a full-grown man seems to be the size of an ant in comparison. You can fit a modern tractor in the doors at both ends of the building. Specifically designed to maintain livestock during the harsh winters, only the tip of the roof peeks over a hilltop when viewed from the road. Along with the protection of the north wind from the hill beside the barn, the barn its self is spectacular in the hidden setting. For over 100 years this barn has stood and at the time of writing this, the buildings and the Knapp family still stand tall.

Medium: Produced from the original watercolor painting

"Distance and Time" Giclée Canvas Edition

2015-06-06T13:55:00.003-05:00

14" x 24" Giclée Edition on Archival Canvas by Artist William Holbrook

This was somewhat of an emotion painting because I used my son Channing and his Great Grandfather Bill Holbrook both as models. All the symbolism in this painting surely struck a common cord with me. This is the ‘Dolphin Farm’, not the ocean mammal but the family name. I loved all the fence lines and cattle gates, I found this painting very challenging and rewarding to paint.

This painting was titled ‘Distance and Time’ because the men in my family had the tendency to work to so damn hard and not realize by looking toward the future so much they where unknowingly missing the present moments. This painting is one of those frozen moments with a whole lot of unrealized symbolism. The patriarch looking out toward the unknown future, not realizing the future is staring at him from behind. The distance between them is as much metaphorical as it is in reality. The hint of rain n’ storms building in the background was so important to the welfare and survival of the farm, but it is also a solemn indication of what relationships have to go through to be prosperous. On that note, I painted a lamb kept behind a gate between the patriarch and the future great grandson as a symbol of how we sometimes lock-up and ignore the divine presence of the moment and walk in the mind rather than reality.

But at the same time the farm had been built up around us by the very mindset of looking toward the future with preparedness. All the fences we create in life, both metaphorical and real shapes our future. I merely painted this image to remind families to also view the present moment with just as much attentiveness and care we give to looking to the future.

Medium: Produced from the original watercolor painting

"Stick-a-bur Path" Giclée Canvas Edition

2015-06-05T14:59:00.003-05:00

"Stick-a-bur Path" of the 'American Memories’

This is a Sioux City, Iowa historical perspective. The year is 1861 during the hay-day of the riverboat and civil war era. This is a view from the top of the hill of present day Jackson Street (behind the old YMCA) looking west over the valley. The hill to the left is Prospect Hill. The hills on the far horizon are the hills along the way to present day Riverside. The grove of trees just beyond the town is where Perry creek flows. The two boys setting off the path picking stick-a-burs from their feet are Charlie Chamberlin & Edgar Stone. Both of these boys grew up to be influential men in Sioux City History

Medium: Produced from the original watercolor painting

"Akron Milling Co. 1898" Giclée Canvas Edition

2015-06-05T14:47:00.006-05:00

11" x 17" Giclée Edition on Archival Canvas by Artist William Holbrook

This is a flour and grain mill that was located in Akron, Iowa. Situated on the Big Sioux River in Westfield, Iowa. This milling building was powered by the waterwheel house next to the mill, the mill worked by the power of the waterwheel turning the leather strapped gear works throughout the entire three story building. By adjusting the straps and gearing the milling company could mill grains and other uses.

Because of the dam, the site also served for a great seasonal fishing spot, especially during spawning season when different types of fish migrated up the river and was stopped by the dam. All of us are drawn to the water, the sound of water flowing and the feelings of solitude that it brings. But water can both create and devour, for instance the Big Sioux River has a long history of flooding in some way, shape or form every year along the northwest Iowa and southeast South Dakota borders. Even in recent history, in 2013 large portions of downtown Akron Iowa flooded. So you can only imagine the scene in this painting with water as high as the top of the first floor of the Akron Milling Company. None-the-less aside from the tribulations of the power of the Big Sioux, those living near the river still enjoy its’ bounties n’ beauty.

Medium: Produced from the original watercolor painting. I did this watercolor painting as a study for a future painting.

"Twin Wind Rarity" Giclée Canvas Edition

2015-06-05T14:26:00.000-05:00

This is truly a rare Midwest scene, two windmills side by side. This barn was located to the southeast area of Moville, Iowa about 6-7 miles. The windmill to the left was primarily for the house and the windmill to the right served the barn and livestock watering tanks beyond the barn. The setup was ingenious because of the placement of the windmills; the water ran down hill to the barn and the house, thus having enough natural pressure as to not needing any electrical pumps.

When I saw this from the road it was winter, but a bright sunny day in December 1987 or 1988. I had to stop to get pictures so I drove up the farm drive to the house, (just right of the windmills) just as the owner was coming out of the house with a shotgun as his golden retriever rushed my car. I though to myself, “Oh shh-having cream, I hope he’s not gunning for me?” Well, he was just coming out to go pheasant hunting out in his fields. I got out, introduced myself and he invited me to go along and I walked with him, telling him I want to get pictures of the windmills. He was more then accommodating.

This scene is a faded memory because the house, windmills and barn all have been raised. ( kind way of saying torn down or destroyed) So here is a lasting memory in this painting.

Print Editions relating to this work of art comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist.
Medium: Produced from the original watercolor painting
Delivery Details: 7-10 Business Days.

SN*= Signed and Numbered by the artist.
AP**= Artist Proof that is signed by the artist.

"Midwest Memories" Giclée Canvas Edition

2015-06-02T13:44:00.000-05:00

This once was a spectacular working cattle and crop farm on the east side of Sioux City, Iowa within the rolling Loess Hills. The farm was certainly a working farm with horses that helped with plowing, driving cattle and traveling. The man in this painting was named Art Bollinger, when I met him in 1991 he was 92 years old, and he was still raising beautiful Belgian Horses. Though Mr. Bollinger was not in anyway associated with this farm, he was raised about 5 miles north of this farm. I’m sure he had full knowledge of this farm, because he told me so. I placed him and his Belgian horses into the painting to illustrate use of this once vibrant farm and to lend respect to Mr. Bollinger at the same time.

The setting of the farm is on top of a hill with a commanding view all around it. My friend Rick Scott told a wonderful true story that happened at this location. Rick and his family grew up across the valley from this farm. He told me that in the late 1950’s, as a child, he was riding his horse and fell off of it near their home. The horse took off as a wild dog came up from the valley full stride towards him. He told me the dog certainly wanted to attack him. Ricks father was at this farm visiting and was about 150 yards away on the other side of the valley witnessing the dog go after his son. Rick’s father always carried a Winchester lever style rifle on him, and he swiftly took a few shots and was able to shoot the dog, thus saving Rick.

With no doubt I have been enthralled with this farm’s beauty and its history. I also painted a second setting of this farm titled, ‘Distance and Time’ that shows the cattle gates and the outer workings of the farm buildings. Click here to view. View this location at this map link.

Print Editions relating to this work of art comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist.

Medium: Produced from the original watercolor painting
Delivery Details: 7-10 Business Days.

SN*= Signed and Numbered by the artist.
AP**= Artist Proof that is signed by the artist.

South River - Marshfield, Ma

2014-05-31T14:23:00.000-05:00

This is a Plein Air painting, painted on location at Marshfield, Ma looking toward the north on the South River near the Pratt Historic conservation land. I tried to paint but it was very windy and it was snowing, so I merely sketched out the painting on the panel with a senia pigment and tried to commit this scene to memory. As I was walking away I remembered my cell phone in my pocket and I snapped a picture, I included it here for your enjoyment. Boy it was snowing. I finished this painting at my friend Jim's Place. The photo of the fireplace is included in the other posts.

Original Oil Painting on Panel 16"x20"

Marshfield Hills From Humarock Scituate, Ma

2014-05-31T13:54:00.003-05:00

I painted this scene open air on location, "Pleinair", looking from Humarock at Scituate Harbor toward the Marshfield Hills in Massachusetts. It was a cold pre-spring, windy day. This is the second painting I did while in Massachusetts. I was so excited to have the clouds cast countless variations of shadows that day, the lighting in the painting was a figment of memory in the mind because it would change in an instant while I painted. Being the historic minded romantic I am, I could not help to think how this view looked without any civilization, so I decided to paint from the wits. Any and all comments are welcome.

Campbell Family Farm - Nova Scotia

2014-05-31T13:02:00.000-05:00

I painted this scene for a family that had a farm in Nova Scotia. This was a fun subject to paint because of the research more than the paint itself. This ten-person family dairy farm was such a productive place that no one seemed to have taken many photos. The farm is now gone to the elements and time. I only had a aerial photo from above and one other old photo from the other side of the farm to work from, so a good number of sketches were created from scratch. This was so much fun to paint.

Gurnet Point- View from Duxbury, Beach Massachusetts

2014-05-06T08:13:00.000-05:00

I painted this scene twice, the first painting was on canvas and I accidently put a hole in the middle of the canvas on the way back, so I painted another on on panel. This was a wonderful spring like day on Duxbury Beach toward the early evening.

Marshfield Hills from Hamarock. Situate, Ma

2014-05-06T07:41:00.001-05:00

Oil painting with a view point of Marshfield Hills from Hammarock at Situate MA looking over the harbor at low tide. This was painted Plien Air (open air) on March 21, 2014. The painting was finished in the studio by memory.

Marshfield, MA

2014-03-06T09:35:00.001-06:00

A primal man pad. I got the opportunity to visit and walk the South River in Marshfield, MA to take photos to paint from. I look forward to open my paint kit, it has been a week since mailing it from Sioux City, IA. The kit just arrived today. I will be painting within two days.

Bakers Place - Watercolor Painting

2014-01-09T19:30:00.002-06:00

This is a first generation family horse ranch that is located near Bacon Creek Park in Sioux City Iowa. The children of the family extremely enjoys the horses and ponies. This watercolor was painted around 2008. Image Size 12 "x18".

Dolphin Farm near Sioux City, Iowa

2014-01-09T19:21:00.001-06:00

This early watercolor painting by Ray Holbrook is a Sioux City, Iowa historical perspective. This is a family farm cattle ranch on the North side of Sioux City, Iowa. Water Color Image Size 20"x38". Painted in aprx. 2004.This painting is in a private collection.

Day Before the Holiday

2013-12-24T14:54:00.000-06:00

I had a feeling of cold winter stillness when painting this watercolor painting. Though it was the day before Xmas and I was playing with my boy Drew, it was a bright but cold day. Drew is 4 1/2 years old. We sat down to paint and I did this watercolor while he preferred to worked on his robots. This is a 5"x7" painting.

This painting is in a private collection.

South Dakota Easy Quiet

2013-12-23T12:41:00.000-06:00

A summer memory on the plains of South Dakota looking toward Iowa near West Field Iowa. I just cant help stopping to paint once and a while. Sometimes I just traverse the back roads and try to commit the scenery to memory, that was the case for this painting. This 5"x7" Watercolor is painted on cotton archival paper.

This painting is in a private family collection.

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South Dakota View, Jefferson SD

2013-12-23T11:08:00.000-06:00

Painting again. I went a bit Zen, simplifying the color placement by letting the painting happen on its own. This is a view by memory near where my Grand Father lived near Jefferson, South Dakota.
This original watercolor size is 5"x7" and was painted December 23rd 2013.

Not For Sale

South Dakota Looking to Iowa

2013-12-20T19:30:00.000-06:00

Painted near Jefferson, South Dakota. I painted this watercolor scene the night before my Grandson Spencer Lee Holbrook was born on December 20th 2013. This is a miniature 4"x6.

Not for sale.

Missouri River Snow Storm

2010-01-14T09:06:00.004-06:00

It has been a while since painting. I've been having the urge, so I went out among the snow drifts and painted on location. This painting is a view looking from South Dakota over the Missouri River to Nebraska near Jefferson SD. South of Ponca, Nebraska.

Mapleton Iowa Farm USA Framed

2006-06-12T19:04:00.001-05:00

This view is a on the back roads in the countryside of Mapleton , Iowa. This was painted in one setting, other than allowing for drying time and varnishing it only took 2 hours to create. I recall the day was a partly cloudy, perfect for a painter, catching shadows and contrast between lights and darks. This landscape painting is a view from within a the chain of the Loess Hills near about 5 miles north of Mapleton, Iowa, I walked about a mile and a half to capture this rural farm scene on camera, then it was painted in the studio.

Original 8x10 Oil Painting framed with a golden tone maple wood grain frame SOLD-measures 12.25" x 14.25"

This painting is in a private collection.

West Okoboji Iowa Gull Point II Framed

2006-06-12T11:27:00.000-05:00

Price $395 Framed | SOLD | 3-10 day delivery

This scene is a common sight in West Lake Okoboji Iowa. This scene is a second depiction of Gull Point on the West lake. It is a second of a long series of paintings that I'm painting that shows the same scene in different lighting and weather. See the other "Gull Point " paintings in this blog. This landscape painting is a view from the DNR station near Gull Point on the lake of West Okoboji, Iowa late in a evening of May 2006.

This was painted in the studio.

Original oil painting 8x10 on canvas framed in a black 2.75" frame.

This painting is in a private collection.

West Okoboji Iowa III framed

2006-06-12T11:19:00.000-05:00

Price $170 Framed | SOLD

As you can tell, I love painting skyscapes. Each skyscape has its own character and challenges when painting. In many ways the smaller miniatures are great practice when experimenting with color and composition, they are a great in developing style especially when applying the knowledge towards working on larger landscapes.

I spent a day in the West Lake Okoboji, Iowa USA area sight seeing and doing sketches and taking pictures. This landscape painting is a view from the DNR station near Gull Point on the lake of West Okoboji, Iowa late in a evening of July 2005. This was painted in the studio June 4th 2006.

Original oil painting 5x7 on canvas framed with a black frame.

West Okoboji Iowa I

2006-06-12T11:14:00.000-05:00

Price $325 | SOLD | 3-10 day delivery

I spent a day in the Great Lakes area sight seeing and doing sketches and taking pictures. This landscape painting is a view from the DNR station near Gull Point on the lake of West Okoboji, Iowa late in a evening of May 2006. This was painted in the studio.

Original oil painting 8x10 on canvas Framed in a gold gilded 2.5" frame.

West Okoboji Iowa Gull Point I Framed

2006-06-12T11:02:00.000-05:00

Price $475 Framed | SOLD | 3-10 day delivery

This scene is a common sight in West Lake Okoboji Iowa. This scene is a quick study painting of Gull Point on the West lake. It is a first of a long series of paintings that I'm painting that shows the same scene in different lighting and weather. See the other "Gull Point " paintings in this blog. This is more than fun, it's a challenge finding the different moods in the weather and time of year. I spend a days going back to familiar locations to reference and paint from. This landscape painting is a view from the DNR station near Gull Point on the lake of West Okoboji, Iowa late in a evening of May 2006. This was painted in the studio.

It is framed in a very rich 4" gilded frame, which by the way is just as important as the painting when presenting original art, just see the painting with the frame, big difference with a frame!

Original oil painting 8x10 on canvas