B. Holder states, “creating is my passion, my joy and my healing tool. I open my heart and my hands to the creative spirit, with the intention of letting The Light shine through me so that I might serve my community. Please, if you have the dream of painting or drawing or creating in any way, I encourage you to act upon it. I had dreamed of being an artist my whole life but didn’t think I was good enough; one of the reasons I didn’t take art in school was that I was afraid that I wouldn’t make an “A.” I had collected art supplies and books since my preteens and would pull them out from time to time to draw or paint. I was almost 40 before I allowed myself the time and trusted myself enough to create consistently.”

“Art is a practice just like anything else. It takes your having the intention, setting aside the time to consistently practice, and opening up to your creative spirit. You can start with a sketchbook and a few pencils or markers…have fun with it…create with child-like glee….create as you listen to music or to birds singing…..dance your work….celebrate what comes flowing through….after all, it is uniquely yours!”

Betty, born in Tennessee, received her B.A. in English, Secondary Education, from Lipscomb University in Nashville. She remembers loving art as early as age four, getting her first camera at age 10, and winning ribbons at the county fair as a preteen. She first received formal art training at Watkins Institute in Nashville at age 12 and exhibited her work at the Parthenon Museum. At this early age she realized she didn’t enjoy the classroom setting, preferring to work on her own, which she continued to do into her thirties.

From 1977 to 1992, the working world kept Holder in touch with her creativity, as she created and studied in her spare time. In Nashville, she taught tenth grade English in 1977. Then, while working for Aladdin, she studied calligraphy and watercolor; received photography training in Philadelphia; and was editor/photographer of the corporate newsletter. In 1984 Holder moved to Tyler, Texas, to manage an artisan gallery.

Holder moved to Sonora, California, as a newlywed in 1986 where she worked with her husband Randolph at their radio stations and volunteered for community organizations. In 1992 she rededicated herself to her creativity and to finding her own way to serve the community. In the next few years, Holder studied with artists Kate Trelatsky, Dianne Stearns and Laura Morton. She also studied with medicine circle teacher Sheila Gradison and credits that work with helping her to reconnect with her inner vision and divine guidance. In 1997 she trained with the Person-Centered Expressive Arts Therapy Institute in Santa Rosa; she also studied Process Painting in Kauai and with Michelle Cassou at Esalen Institute.

Betty and her family moved in 1999 to Incline Village, Nevada, where she finds comfort and inspiration in Lake Tahoe and the Canada geese. In 2000 she took a workshop with painter/ ceramicist Gillian Hodge. She studied visionary art with Alex and Allyson Grey at Omega Institute in New York in 2001 and 2002; tap dancing in 2003; and studied pottery at Sierra Nevada College in 2004.

In addition to painting, drawing and photography, Betty uses art, sound and movement as a healing and awareness technique and has used these tools in classroom and business environments. “My goal with my work,” says Holder, “is to step aside and allow the creation to flow through me. I’m not always sure what meaning a piece has during the creation, but some significance usually presents itself after being with the piece and perhaps dialoguing with it or moving to it. The challenge is to not interfere with that process.”

Betty also enjoys spending time with her husband and their kitty kids, Zoe and Franny; walking in nature; kayaking on Lake Tahoe; reading and exploring spiritual pursuits; and going to movies, art museums and galleries.

Click here to see B. Holder’s Light Mosaic Photographic Series and her Shadow Study Photographic Series

For more information and the latest news from B. Holder, see the links below:
The Magical Story of the Bluebirds of Happiness - by B. Holder