Under Nancy's Big Tree
oil on panel
1990
One of my favorite paintings finds a home after 22 years. A few weeks ago I received an email from a woman named Naomi, asking if I was the same Denny Holland who painted the work above. Seems she remembered it hanging in the law firm she worked in back in the 90's. (At the time this painting was being rented out through the SFMOMA Rental Galley- it was one of my most popular paintings, having been rented out for a solid ten years until I got it back about five years ago.) She was just starting out her law career and didn't have the money to buy the painting. It hung outside her office and it left after three months.
A lot of my work that is sold is gone forever, there are pieces that I will never see again. However, I'm glad that this one- a very special painting to me for various reasons- has found a home in San Francisco with a wonderful young family who will enjoy it. There's just something comforting in knowing that this painting is only about six miles from here and close by.
At a recent event at the Rental Gallery (now called the Artists' Gallery), Naomi asked the staff if they knew of the painting and who the artist was. The painting was still on her mind after all these years. Fortunately, she spoke with someone who's worked at the gallery long enough to remember the painting based on Naomi's description. It was the tree branch notched into the corner that sparked memories and brought things into light. After an internet search, a few emails, and a lovely two hour studio visit, I'm happy to say this work has a new home.
