Local Artist Profi le: Dan Holt

Step into a World of Whimsical Fantasy

Local Artist Profi le: Dan Holt

WRITTEN BY: Jennifer Sprach

Art provides an opportunity to step into another world and sink into a story created within the artist’s own mind.

Elmira artist Dan Holt invites the viewer into his imagination, a world of whimsical fantasy, that one would think would only exist in a child’s imagination.

“What I want people to see when they see my stuff, is to fi nd that image in their mind’s eye and have a fantasy,” said Holt. “Let the picture take them to their own place and inspire their own imagination.”

Hinting at the existence of a place where the frogs play in an ensemble or symphony beneath the grasses that lay amongst our feet, “some of the frogs playing in the ensemble are in the symphony,” said Holt.

Many of his pieces feature frogs and when asked where his interest in frogs came from, he said he used to live on Bullfrog Road, and it was across the street from Bullfrog Valley Pond which had bullfrogs in it.

His passion for music can be found in several pieces of his art as well. “I like musical instruments,” he said. “I play saxophone and my wife Colleen plays the fl ute.”

One piece often inspires another and hints of each other can be found within the images for the keen observer to fi nd.

He often works with pencil, felt tip pen, watercolour, and acrylic paints, and is not fond of oil paints because they are messy, and they smell.

He only sells reproductions of his art but the size and material they are printed on is fully customizable so any piece will fi t any space. All the images are also available as greeting cards and are 12 cards for $25.

Holt’s art is the ideal conversation piece or a way to keep patients entertained while in the waiting room.

The intricacy leaves viewers discovering details with a childlike excitement, providing Easter egg-like rewards.

The longer someone looks, the more details they discover, leaving the viewer with the feeling that something was overlooked and wanting more. The focus might be a woman on a swing only to lead you deeper to discover the band of dwarves playing her favourite song. Nothing is as it appears upon your fi rst glance with the intricate works of Dan Holt.

Holt doodled for as long as he can remember and often got in trouble at school for the hobby.

The doodling kept him focused. It drew his attention away from all the external distractions like the feeling of the fabric of his shirt, or the noises many people tune out.

He was hyperaware of his surroundings and doodling quieted external

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NEW DUNDEE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

welcomes past, present, and future members to join us in celebrating our 115TH ANNIVERSARY

Tuesday afternoon, June 21, 2022 at 2pm New Dundee Community Centre

(outside at back weather permitting, or indoors) Please bring your lawn chair, plate, and mug Come and reminisce and fi nd out what we’re all about! RSVP to Judy at 519-696-2629 by Friday, June 17th

...Fantasy, cont’d

distractions, allowing him to turn his attention where he needed to - he would often be seen doodling away through a seminar.

In his 20’s he tried to start up a sign business with cartoons on plywood with customizable bubbles for any occasion, such as birthdays or baby’s birth announcement.

Although it never really took off for him, some of the signs are over 30 years old and can still be found around his home.

“The paint is really old and you can see it’s starting to peel, but it’s from 1989 and it’s still holding up,” said Holt. “They’re fun to make.”

He also created two books which can be found on his website. The book June Concert is an illustrated poem written by his cousin from Oklahoma and is an excellent children’s story.

The other is Cartoon Thinking, a nine lesson plan on how to draw cartoons for kids aged nine and up. He created the book based on a class he used to teach for gifted children. He would run a competition each year and have all the kids in the class draw a character of him.

One boy submitted a picture of just a circle. When he asked the student what it was supposed to be, the student replied it was him, from the top. He laughs at the memory while saying “he won the competition.”

Dan Holt Art www.danholtart.com Are you a local artist in

Waterloo Region? We would love to profi le you and your art, give us a shout: news@wrruralpost.com

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Elmira Lions Members father and son Rodney & Bert Martin help at their Saturday collection depot at Lions Hall.

Another Successful Bottle Drive for Lions Club of Elmira

WRITTEN BY: WRRP Staff

Lions’ member Bert Martin, who co-ordinates the bottle drive, said they have two collections every year - in the spring and the fall. The last few years have not been as successful, but last weekend’s collections saw a healthy increase.

All monies collected from the Lions Club bottle drive go directly to Woolwich Community Services. The fi nal total collected was $730.00. The Lions Club of Elmira is grateful for the members of the public that continue to support Woolwich Community Services through the bottle drive.

The Club will be collecting again this fall, so start saving your beer cans, spirit bottles and wine bottles. Carpet Remnants 25%OFF! Selected In-stock carpet from $1.09/sq. .! Selected In-stock Luxury Vinyl Plank from $1.89/sq. .! Selected In-stock Luxury Vinyl Plank from $1.89/sq. .!