Elaine Holien

Tree in Abiquiu

2011

Elaine Holien first came to Taos in the summer of 1967 to study anthropology at the D.H. Lawrence Field School. She met her future husband on this initial trip, returned to New York to finish her studies, then finally returned to New Mexico to marry Tom Holien. Her first job was documenting the Kachina collection in watercolor renderings at the Wheelwright Museum. Through the years Elaine’s work has evolved, but always painting the landscape. Her paintings are vibrant in color and focus on simplifying the landscape. She selects elements that depict the essence of a place. “Regarding the landscape, the patterns and colors interest me the most. I am drawn to the yellow trees against the reddish, pinkish earth, or patterns of green pinions against the red earth.” A painter in New Mexico for 35 years, Elaine Holien is one of New Mexico’s premier landscape painters. One of her favorite locations to paint is the region of Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu. “New Mexico is one of the most beautiful places. Everywhere you look is a painting.”