Investing in the Arts

Hollis Machala of Machalarts Watercolor Studio paints vivid pictures of life.

By Mark Berger Much has been made of the arts and how it may be fading away. With less disposable income because of the global pandemic, people are more discernible when it comes to disposable spending. Plus, there is a wide array of what constitutes art. What someone deems as art-worthy, someone else may believe is worthless.

Enter Hollis Machala, owner of Machalarts Watercolor Studio, who works with clients on creating the best watercolor paintings. She recently began her art studio work full-time in nearby Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

Machala paints from the heart. Her goal in painting is creating a stunning visual that speaks to the person buying the piece. There are many ways to view something, but having that work say something positive can make it stronger. “When I paint something, whether it’s a commissioned piece or painting for my own collections, I want to make it so it becomes a conversation starter,” she said. “Once a piece leaves the studio, my hope is that the purchaser will look at it fondly and give a backstory on how it got to that point. This is something that may end up hanging on a wall in an office or living room. It should be a source of pride.”

One area of good news is the increasing number of exhibits opening. Since the pandemic basically shut down everything, getting artwork out to the masses proved difficult under the circumstances. Many shows went virtual with word-of-mouth advertising becoming more the norm. With more people being fully vaccinated, there are more customers able to attend shows. During the pandemic, Hollis switched her plan to go out to more shows and went all online. Starting a VIP Facebook group where collectors can see what is happening weekly, get tips for finding the right art for them, receive monthly freebies, and perhaps take part in a color course or two that she just finishes inside the online group.

“I hope this can lead to a patron channel where I can help more collectors or learners, but I also need more people to know what I’ve been painting and how it can help them first. I’m on a mission to do this one person at a time,” she stated. Her current favorite paintings are moments taken from life that one does not normally see, like a crane landing on a boat at sunset or a goose balancing on one leg. She recently did a series of swans taken from an encounter at the Roger Williams Park in Providence. The three paintings sold on the spot of revealing.

“Each expressed a different motion that the swan made. I love painting nature, but as an artist, I think it’s part of my job to always push the boundaries and I have a pretty wacky, but fun fruit still-life face collection which can lift your space up for summer. I’m looking for patrons who want to join me on this boundary-pushing journey,” she explained.

Machala gets inspiration from watercolor artists like John Singer Sargent. Sometimes, however, she turns to some pop art influences with still-life works, such as her “Peach on Fabric” collection.

Most of her work, to date, has been fairly realistic in style. This spring, she painted 24 smaller works with more abstract realistic characteristics. Her reasoning stemmed from wanting to make a lighter (less bold) collection that celebrates new life, movement, and color.

Machala recently held a month-long “2 Painting Duel” in which she took two images—one from the client and one the client selected from her website gallery—and painted them separately. The customer could choose which piece they wanted to keep. It was an event held on Facebook and had quite a bit of interest.

“This was a way to get people excited about art,” she said. “For the collector, they get to add unique pieces. For the ones just beginning, they can explore what appeals to them. There’s something to love for every type of taste and style.”

of art and learning more about the process regarding what appeals to them. She hopes to dispel the myth that art buying has to be stuffy or intimidating. “Art should fill people’s spaces with joy and meaning by reminding them of the things they hold dear,” she explained.

Machala received her Bachelor of Arts degree in interior design from the former Mount Ida College in 2006. After several years of working in lighting design and several years in graphic design, she developed an interest in watercolor painting. She spent four years mentoring under Award-Winning Architectural Illustrator and Watercolor Painter, Frank M. Costantino, where her interest turned into a passion.

“I’ve been self-taught since then. I currently explore balance in my work, both with materials and in subjects. I enjoy realism, but am always searching for new ways to paint watercolor and design unique art pieces, such as my laser cut art puzzles. I am drawn to and renewed by nature, photography, and food for my paintings’ inspirations,” she expressed.

Anyone interested in following Machala on social media can do so on Facebook. Her Art Group is called Watercolor Studio Insiders - Art by Hollis Machala. People can join the group at: www.facebook.com/groups/machalarts.