Philip Holmes is an international, representative artist of historical and contemporary Māori and European portraits.
The essence of Philip’s works is it authenticity, its exquisiteness, and aesthetic beauty.
Philip was born in Auckland. Living throughout his youth in the cultural environments and physical landscapes of Hāwera, Taupō, and King Country, inspired Philip’s interest in researching and expanding his knowledge of the history of New Zealand and Māoritanga. Philip follows tikanga (correct custom or protocols) when painting Māori portraiture.
Throughout his youth, Philip developed his skills in drawing and love of art history and in his early twenties, with no formal training, resolved to become a professional painter.
Historical research and planning for authenticity plays an important part in the development of Philip’s work. To ensure the best results, he likes to experiment and develop new techniques, to capture the skins tones and intrinsic nature of his subjects.
For the underpainting, Philip’s preference is to use powdered contė crayons, carbon black or chalk mixed with linseed oil; the mixture applied across the painting surface. Using a cloth or brush, the excess is erased creating a monochromatic image of the subject. Using traditional European painting techniques, oil paint is applied.
Some of his monochrome portrait paintings have been created entirely from carbon black, or contė with a little oil paint added. His method creates beautiful, realistic images with glowing skin tone.
