Meet Andrew (Ana” Alu) Hollimon of Reflections Of Anaalu in Palm Beach County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew (Ana” Alu) Hollimon.

Andrew, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My art story is one of a few life stories: growing to adulthood, the military, college, years in corporate America Human Resources, and a few years of college instruction/administration embodies the amalgam of stories.

My art story has roots in drawing (sketching) as a pre-teen through current art exhibitions and commissions leading to art sales. Reflections of Anaalu, as a business, is the legal business entity for facilitating the sale of art.

From drawing as a kid to art exhibition is a long slow path. A path, like many other artists, wasn’t paved via the study of art nor art lessons. I never received an art lesson. Such lessons were not “cool” among the inner city denizens’ with whom I grew through my teen years and my parents never once worked to leverage my drawing skills via high school counselors. Moreover, not one high school counselor asked me if I had hobbies. A counselor shortcoming  (oversight or lack of competence), if it hadn’t taken place, might have led to enrolling in high school art classes. Maybe… but social influences and St. Louis Missouri’s “mean streets” didn’t lead me art lessons.

After high school, the Viet Nam War provided impetus to volunteer for a few years in the US Air Force. Looking back, a cherished choice which facilitated learning discipline (both mental and physical) which provides a basis for my “self-actualized” life here in South Florida. The award of a TOP SECRET Crypto Security Clearance and four years in the US Air Force *SIGINT, ELINT, and COMINT INTEL) filled with related learning opportunities served as a springboard for life once discharged from the military.  But still no art lessons. Discharged at age year 21 and I enrolled in college within six months.

Two-dimensional art, for me, started well after the completion of an MBA and years of work prior to ending a work-life teaching college Business and General studies classes.

Relocation to SOFLO and the ability to devote as much time as I wish to my art has led to an opportunity to answer your interview question. And that is a good thing.

Has it been a smooth road?
Basically, learning to develop art was an early struggle. The question of a “smooth road” should be considered with the ultimate rewards for one’s efforts. No, the road wasn’t smooth as I started painting a bit later in life than many artists. As stated the road was paved without supporting art lessons and the road was full of turns, curves, hills, and valleys which served as barriers to recognition of the gift of artistry. Art is a gift, no matter the art form, skills in art is a gift.

“Struggles along the way?”

Yes, building a personal economic foundation which kicked-in once I decided to move away from teaching college and the earlier work in corporate America. Working as such didn’t afford the time nor focus necessary to develop skills in art. Guess I struggled for a degree of financial independence with an eventual reward of free time to practice art. Yes, working all those years with working with people (Human Resources Manager and college teacher) while living as an innate introvert, was a major struggle.

Gaining entry into venues and associated attention to my art has been a struggle. I am a Realist painter (with a twist) and one who on occasion will play around with pattern art (well shy of purely abstract work). Therefore what I do forces extra effort and luck in interacting with other artist and potential buyers who appreciate my choice of subjects and artistic execution.

So, like many artists who wish to sell their work, getting to potential customers is a struggle.

Getting my art in front of people who can afford it, who will purchase it and walk away with the piece, is a struggle?

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
Allow me to reverse order the question. I don’t believe anything sets my work apart from that of others because the vast majority of 2D artists produce work which is different in some way. So, I wouldn’t seek to differentiate as such. If we sell art we do so not as a person which produces mass produced inventory. We as artist are not selling records, hamburgers nor cars. We sell to a person who has moved through the following process to a point of spending money,

“The eye is a portal to sensory perception; the hammer hits the mail that stands out.”

That nail is so based on the buyer, I don’t work to differentiate. I just paint.

That said, what follows may touch into a few items which could lead to my perception of a personal brand.

What do you do…? My work is a form of Realism, but I always add the work is what I call Realism with a twist. I may paint a sunset over an evening cove but I will probably make the sky surrounding the sun, shades of grey vs. colors most associated with sunsets. Yet tomorrow, I may paint the classic sunset replete with all of nature’s natural colors and beauty.

What do you specialize in…? I am more a Realist painter of Figurative Art or artwork showing eye-catching spatial relationships of subjects. That embodies what I do. Love to paint orchids, other flowers, birds of prey and very colorful birds, and much of my work has depictions of the full moon in the background or as a center-front subject.

What are you known for…? Colors and detail.

What are you most proud of as a brand, organization, service provider or creative? The reality of people who appreciate my art pieces enough to spend money and hang the piece in a place important to them.

What were you like growing up?
I was quiet and introverted to the max. The reason I grew to pick up a pencil and paper a bunch.

Introversion which may also have contributed to my lack of impetus in art lessons. Having grown up in the inner city of St Louis. Missouri, one was forced to factor associations into their young life. Young men grew to adulthood with a great degree of care.

Sandlot sports occupied much of my life post nine years of age through age thirteen. Backyard football, Corkball with tennis balls and a sawed-off the mop sticks, Indoor ball, backyard basketball; not organized sports.

What happened after that? Girls.

Again drawing occupied may hours indoors as the streets were not conducive to too much time outside. And, drawing facilitated my young introversion/shyness.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artfinder.com/andrew-ana-alu-hollimon#/
• Phone: 3147808186
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @Anaaul8

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