Eric Holch is an internationally recognized artist and printmaker, based on Nantucket Island. He creates limited edition serigraph prints, posters and has a signature line of nautical neckties. You can find him on-island at the Brown Basket Gallery at 9 Old South Wharf.
Since 1976, Holch’s prints (all limited edition) and oil paintings have been exhibited in over 250 galleries and museums. Holch’s distinctive images have been used for magazine covers, posters, cards, linens, jigsaw puzzles, ceramics, needlepoint, clothing and fashion accessories, just to name a few!
Holch grew up in Andover, Massachusetts and Greenwich, Connecticut, but spent his summers on the island of Nantucket. His New England upbringing had a strong influence on both his subject matter, stark light and crisp style of his prints and oil paintings. He is fascinated by harbors, summer sailing races, friendly side streets, warm sandy beaches and unique architectural details found by the sea.
Holch says, “I try to capture those timeless images that are like snapshots in your memory. The kind of image you can look at in the middle of winter and be instantly transported back to that happy moment in time. The artistic equivalent of a story that opens your mind’s door into a great summer daydream.”
“The technical process of printmaking lends itself perfectly to creating this kind of image. The colors are intense but the message must remain simple because you are limited to flat planes of color. Creating these original prints is more time consuming for me than painting since a large print takes me about 4 months from start to finish, but the printmaking medium is a perfect match for accomplishing my artistic goals.”
Mr. Holch’s formal art training began at Trinity-Pawling School where he won their first annual art award. He continued his studies in art, architecture and art history at Hobart College and has since won numerous awards in juried exhibitions throughout New England. He is a member of the Nantucket Artist’s Association, and his works are included in many private, corporate, institutional and museum collections in the United States, Japan, Australia, and Europe. Holch is one of the few contemporary printmakers whose work was selected by the Original Print Collectors Group, Ltd., a leading authority on investing in art.
In 1993, Eric and his wife, Betsy, opened up the Holch Gallery on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts. The gallery is open daily from June through October and by appointment through the winter.
Visit his website at ericholch.com to purchase prints, posters and neckwear.