Emma Malikowski

Belle Hollon’s collection of work in the Serpentine Gallery in West Chester is captivating and loud. Upon entering the gallery shared by various other artists, her compositions are arranged first both to your right and left. Her acrylic and oil landscapes are composed on paper with slight paper surface still strategically revealed. Unpainted surface, within “La Canada de Abiquiu” for example, can be distracting if there is too much, however Belle’s way of utilizing this style is fitting and successful. Shadow and light are portrayed with thick, simple, yet appropriate strokes of paint. A closer view reveals a variety of saturated hues arranged in a gestural fashion, creating movement and depth. “View from the Studio” uses exaggerated perspective in a diagonal layout with cool blues and purples suggesting a later evening shadow on the grasslike foreground. 

Although painterly and embellished, each piece conveys a sense of season and time of day. Belle’s application of loud colors, especially in “Red Rock Study: Sierra Negra” is impractical but delightful. A yellow sky allows for a sense of warmth in a contrasting, cool mountainous setting. In relation, “Studio View” depicts tall palm like trees with blue and black strokes before a vibrant orangey red sky. Belle’s use of simple forms still maintain meaning in a stimulating and energetic fashion. While all her paintings are enjoying to view, her larger compositions compliment her bold and unconfined style. Belle Hollon’s collection in the Serpentine Gallery most definitely impacts everyone of all ages. Her works sit behind the counter, allowing for a last glance by viewers exiting the gallery. In all, Belle’s intriguing and untraditional style stands out amongst other landscape paintings, allowing for a long-lasting imprint in the minds of her fortunate viewers.