Holly Clarke Studios

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Holly Clarke Studios

Sensorial earth pigment paintings invited you to step out of the busyness of life into a softer space. Original paintings + limited edition prints + workshops.

View artwork https://www.hollyclarkestudios.com An emerging contemporary botanical artist from Auckland with three decades experience as a designer specialising in textile & surface pattern design. Her artwork offers havens of respite, a place where one can unwind find lightness & immerse themselves in a tropical experience. Following the loss of her father she sort solace in Indonesia where she d

iscovered first hand the healing qualities of the exuberant & exotic gardens that flourished. Whilst embracing grief she found her muse of calm & peace, a stillness of natural beauty. Filled with gentle swaying bold plants, luscious leaves & unusual flowers she found her ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Filled with unusual shapes, colours & textures, a wild jungle that delighted the senses. Her unique colour palette with soft earthy tones, harmonises & styles effortlessly with natural interior spaces. Using predominantly mineral pigments, reminiscent of the limestone frescos that captivated her during the eight years she spent in Italy. She is committed to finding & sourcing natural mediums & materials for her work, including biodegradable or compostable packaging. To create a sustainable art practice in harmony with our environment. Although not yet perfect or where she wants it to be, it is a work in progress to continually improve. Open to collaborations & creative projects, she welcomes inquiries about her latest creations & potential commissions. https://www.hollyclarkestudios.com/home

15/06/2026

Last summer we had a big storm. Many roads were closed due to flooding and slips and walking the beach and coastal farms was quite different because of it.

Wild weather events are becoming more frequent and extreme. Change is happening whether we like it or not. And I certainly don’t have the answers.

I discovered washed up on the beach soft ochre spheres, in an array of sun faded hues. As well as crumbling bits of red, yellow and pink ochre from the slips. I began to harvest small amounts of what was right in front of me. It felt like a message, to do something with it.

Appreciating and respecting the power and beauty of mother nature is at the core of what I do and I am often in awe and wonder by it. It felt like nature gifted me a palette, to go and do something with it.

Holly x

13/06/2026

I’m feeling a little generous…
So I’ve created a small gift.

A set of mini prints
when you spend over $150
(while available)

For the moments that ask you to soften
and embrace it all, just as you are.

Hollyclarkestudios.com

Holly x

12/06/2026

‘The Book of Earth’, I’m already half of the way through it. Not only is the photography stunning, but the stories, are mind blowing.

White ochre - from shells, to bones, to limestone. Bio mineralisation formed around 800 million years ago. It is in so many things. Plaster cement, paper, gesso, chalk, pastels, makeup, toothpaste, calcium …

This beautiful book is a combination of ancient earth knowledge, diverse cultures, natures wisdom, archaeology, geology and alchemy through the lens of an artist. Well done Heidi Gustafson, it’s now one of my favourite art books. If you’d like to know more go to .

Holly x

images Heidi Gustafson
And Karen Vaughan

10/06/2026

There’s something quite magical about making a new batch of earth pigment pastels.

Especially when they’re being made for a new commission.

Over the last week I’ve been testing, mixing and refining a custom palette inspired by the feeling we want this painting to hold.

Soft blush pinks. Powdery clay tones. Warm earth colours.

A palette that feels feminine, grounded and ephemeral.

This is one of my favourite parts of the process. Watching the pigments blend and shift, discovering subtle variations in colour, and slowly bringing a palette to life.

It’s quiet, sensory work that draws me into the present moment every time.

I feel incredibly grateful to be creating something so personal for someone’s home.

If you’d like to learn more about commissioning a painting, send me a DM and I’d be happy to share how the process works.

Holly x

08/06/2026

I’m so pleased to share that a selection of my original paintings is now available through Kayu Studio.

With a shared love of natural materials, craftsmanship, and thoughtful design, it feels like a very natural partnership.

Seeing my work displayed amongst beautiful timber furniture, linen, ceramics and objects made with such care has made me realise just how important an environment is. The spaces we create around us can change how we feel.

At the heart of my paintings is a search for that feeling too.

A sense of calm. Of ease. A place to relax.

People often tell me they feel a little more grounded when they stand in front of my work, and that’s always my hope, that these paintings offer a quiet moment of connection in an otherwise busy world.

I’m incredibly grateful to have found a home for my work in such a beautiful space.

If you’d like to experience the work in person, you can now view selected original paintings at Kayu Studio in Grey Lynn and Takapuna in Auckland.

Holly x

06/06/2026

Bloomlight, was born wandering through wild gardens at dusk, sensing the wonder of colour and light.

Nature asks nothing from us except to sit with it, relax and to take it all in. Intuitively painted with earth pigments, this piece holds the luminosity and energy that flows through it.

SIZE – 508 × 405 mm canvas size
MATERIAL – archival quality earth pigments on a raw cotton canvas.
FRAMED – Oak tray frame and ready to hang.

For details please go to hollyclarkestudios.com

Holly x

05/06/2026

When an Angels Trumpet towers over you, it feels like a waterfall of flowers. Such beauty yet so poisonous. A night shade hallucinogen.
Best to look, be inspired, and not touch.

In the Sydney botanical gardens.

Holly x

03/06/2026

Stepping out of the rush of life into a slower pace, is a large part of why I like to paint. After decades in-front of a computer designing I felt the pull of its opposite. To work with my hands again, use all of my senses and be guided by my intuition instead. It was and still is, the antidote for all the tech in my life. If you’re feeling the tech fatigue and would like to slow down visit.
Hollyclarkestudios.com

Holly x

01/06/2026

Each artwork is made with natural hand-made, earth pigment pastels. I love making my own art supplies, working with my hands gets me out of my head and reminds me of my childhood spent mucking around in the garden. The process engages your intuition, enabling an experience that is felt through the senses. A sanctuary of calm, peace and wonder.

View the earth pigment original paintings here.
https://f.mtr.cool/ezufnufbpk

Holly x

30/05/2026

Walking through a leafy neighbourhood, flowers spill beyond fences, greens layered upon greens. The mind softens, the breath deepens, shoulders relax, and clarity returns.

Sensorial Garden is an energetic afterglow of walking in nature.

Earth pigments dissolve and colours overlap, like foliage, immersive, felt rather than seen. A sensory awakening that gently lifts the spirit.

SIZE – 352 × 455mm canvas size
MATERIAL – archival quality earth pigments on a raw cotton canvas.
FRAMED – Oak tray frame, ready to hang

View details at hollyclarkestudios.com

Holly x

Address

Meadowbank
Auckland
1072

Website

http://Hollyclarkestudios.com/

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