Meet the Artist - Holly Khalil paints from nature

Winchester Highlands resident Holly Khalil has always been passionate about art, she says. 

“I had a wonderful high school teacher who encouraged us to find our voice,” she says. “I majored in economics and art at Emory University but really didn’t do much art, but now it’s a really great way to unwind.”

Dedicated to her work, Khalil is able to paint when her two children are in school. 

“And sometimes we do art together,” she says. “They like watercolor and making sun prints [a process of placing objects on light sensitive paper and exposing them to the sun].

“I’m a classroom parent,” Khalil adds, “so I often think up projects for the students.  It’s a great way to let kids get creative. Last year we made clay snowmen, and some of the kids made penguins.”

Khalil paints in oils and has a room dedicated to her art. 

“It takes patience, because it takes awhile for oil paint to dry.”

Nature is Khalil’s inspiration, and she describes her work as impressionistic.  She sometimes works from photographs “but most of my art is from my imagination or my memory.”

She also makes linocut block prints and she sews. She made medieval-themed Halloween costumes for her family, including for their dog. And she painted two utility boxes, one near Mt. Vernon House and the other near the Vinson-Owen Elementary School. 

Asked if she sells her paintings, she says, “Eventually I’ll get there,” and is happy to note that she’ll have a booth at the Unitarian Church on Open Studios Day. 

“Making art brings me peace,” she says. “It makes me happy to do it and also to share it.  And I hope it makes others feel the same way.”

Winchester resident Joyce Westner is one of the founders of Winchester News. She holds a degree in English and journalism from Northeastern University. If you have a suggestion for either a Meet the Artist or Helpers Among Us resident, email editor@winchesternews.org.