The painter and digital creator's graphic new works enliven the abode.
Artist Xander Holliday’s Vibrant Home Is Filled with Colourful Art
The painter and digital creator's graphic new works enliven the abode.
Welcome to The Makers. Each week, we’re celebrating innovators, artisans, and crafters of all types, taking you on a private tour of their creative spaces. For this instalment, we tour painter and digital creator, Xander Holliday's colourful home.
Multi-disciplinary artist Xander Holliday's artworks are bold, graphic, and shapely, bringing a playful pop of colour to the homes they reside in. The painter and digital creator makes graphic and colour-driven art in both traditional painting and digital methods. "Getting colour combinations and balance right is a big part of my process," he shares with Bed Threads Journal.
He's dabbled in a variety of industries from hairdressing to working for a bank, but his ultimate calling was full-time art. "Looking back it's been a mixed bag of study, jobs, and side gigs, but they all have contributed somehow to where I am today," he says. One of his greatest achievements has been being represented by Julia Green at Greenhouse Interiors. "It was a humbling and validating moment to make the cut into her fold of artists and makers," he says.
In an exciting collaboration with Bed Threads, Xander has created four exclusive prints that celebrate his love of colour and far-flung destinations. Each of these modern artworks is inspired by ancient signs and symbols and can be hung on their own or paired with any or all of the others.
Xander's modern home, which he built with partner Shaun, beautifully illustrates the transformative effect that art can have on the look and feel of a space. "A brand new house can be daunting as there is so much blank," he says. His vibrant paintings, alongside works from other Australian artists, are peppered throughout the home, bringing life and interest to each room.
An expert in colour matching, Xander has selected furniture and décor that perfectly ties in with the hues of the artworks featured. "We aren’t afraid of colour and we have used it throughout the house," he says. The living room turns to earthy tones of pinks, browns, and greens with tan leather seating, a jute rug, and copper plant pots. "We are always open to moving pieces around and swapping décor from room to room. We also like mixing a few vintage finds in with all the new pieces."
In the primary bedroom, a dreamy blend of beautiful pastels in Mineral and Lilac bedding creates a soothing sanctuary to retreat to each evening.
We took a tour of Xander's vibrant home and spoke to him about his career journey and creative process.
Hi Xander! This series is called The Makers. What is it that you make?
I make graphic and colour-driven art in both traditional painting and digital methods.
How does the act of “making” relate to your personality and who you are?
I'm always trying to find balance in my art. The right placement of elements, the different weight of colours, and I guess that balance search or levelness can be said about me too.
Tell us about your career journey to date. Did you always know you wanted to pursue this line of work?
Looking back it's been a mixed bag of study, jobs, and side gigs, but they all have contributed somehow to where I am today. I wanted to be a graphic designer out of school but found myself studying fashion design. Unsure where this could lead me I became a hairdresser and had many different hairstyles while doing so. I have my time working retail and hospitality jobs while living abroad too.
Upon returning to Australia and looking for stability, I worked in a bank for many years. People are often surprised to hear this because it is so different to what I do now which is full-time art. Being creative and expressive I’ve explored through side hustles like writing for street press, another moment was thinking I could become a DJ!
It wasn’t until working in an interior-focused retail job that I saw behind the scenes of the retail art world. Being the seller of art gave me that “I could do this” moment. I began painting as a hobby on the side and just grew from there.
Talk us through your creative process. Where do you start?
I often start sketching digitally. This gives you the freedom to change the colours and compositions of the elements that make up an artwork. Getting colour combinations and balance right is a big part of my process. If I’m then translating the design to a canvas, I’ll use this as a guide to paint.
Saying that I sometimes just pick up a brush and go for it. These on-the-fly pieces lead to new ideas or techniques, but sometimes they sit in the corner of the room for months on end.
What’s been the single most crucial tool or strategy you’ve used to further your career?
Social media has been a crucial part of getting where I am today. It helps you connect with customers, stockists, collaborators, and other creatives. It can be all-consuming at times but it has been something I’ve leveraged from the very beginning to build a following and brand awareness.
I must say having a supporting partner certainly helps. Leaving your day job to be a painter is a big ask but Shaun has backed me all the way.
What’s been the best thing that’s happened to you since you started your career?
I’ve worked with some great brands and stockists in my career so far but a real milestone is being represented by Julia Green at Greenhouse Interiors. It was a humbling and validating moment to make the cut into her fold of artists and makers.
The platform they provide for emerging artists is really career-changing. Julia has become a great mentor and her passion for colour and what she does is infectious.
Do you have a single piece of advice you’d give to your younger self or someone looking to pursue a similar line of work?
Stop caring what other people think and trust your vision!
Now, the home stuff. How long have you lived in your home?
Just over 18 months.
How did you initially know this was the space for you?
My partner Shaun and I built this house so we knew this was right for us through that process. We lived in a few rental properties before this so we knew what we liked but more importantly didn’t like when customising it.
Our previous purchase was a real fixer-upper and we quickly realised that commitment was not for us (at this stage anyway). We were very fortunate to be able to sell and create something from scratch.
Did you do any renovations or make any big changes after moving in?
A brand new house can be daunting as there is so much blank. You don’t really know how you will use the space until you are in there and a few of our spaces have changed purpose along the way.
How we use spaces has changed in the short time we have been here. The open-plan dining and living space has seen many configurations, but I think we may have found the one!
What was the thought process behind the way you’ve styled the interior?
We aren’t afraid of colour and we have used it throughout the house. For the big pieces, we have tried to not get anything too ‘on trend’ so we don’t get over them quickly. We have personalised the space with soft furnishings, accent pieces and of course art. We have a selection of local and Australian artists on the walls a few of mine tend to sneak out of the studio from time to time.
We are always open to moving pieces around and swapping decor from room to room. We also like mixing a few vintage finds in with all the new pieces.
What are your favourite pieces in the home?
I love our custom-made recycled concrete coffee table by Five Mile Radius in Brisbane. They salvaged brick and tile from a building that was being demolished and created a terrazzo-style polished concrete finish. It is one of a kind!
Do you have any special décor pieces you’re looking to add?
We have a few blank spaces so always on the lookout for new pieces. I’ve fallen into a habit of checking online marketplaces for second-hand pieces, it's pretty hit-and-miss but every now and then something unique pops up.
Which is your favourite room in the house?
The open plan living kitchen dining space is where we spend the most time. It is one big space we have broken into pockets of use. A lounging area with a record player, a dining area opposite the kitchen, and a bar area for two.
We purposefully did not incorporate a TV into this area as we want the focus to be on entertaining.
What are your top tips for a well-styled bedroom, and home generally?
Add plants! They are a great way to add life to any space. They can also add height and break up the eyeline of similar height furniture. This was a problem we had in the bedroom with all low-lying furniture, we added tall plants on side tables and on top of furniture to lift everything up.
Do you have any projects coming up you want to talk about?
I have lots of cool collaborations coming out over the next 12 months, it's an exciting time. I’m exploring where and what my art can reach so who knows where you will see me pop up.
For more from Xander follow him at @xanderholliday
Photography by Benito Martin. Styling by Jackie Brown.
