by Dennis Dalman
A young Sartell woman who loved drawing and doodling as long as she can remember has been winning awards galore for her watercolor paintings and pencil drawings, and one of them will be displayed in the nation’s Capitol building next year.
Lydia Holmgren, daughter of Leah and Aaron Holmgren, graduated from Sartell High School just months ago.
“Art has been a huge part of my life,” she said during an interview with the Newsleaders. “I am looking forward to continuing my art passion at Concordia College (Moorhead) where I’ll study biology and art, of course.”
Holmgren is multi-talented. During her high-school years, she was active in volleyball, Nordic skiing, lacrosse and also participated in concert-and-ensemble band, as well as in jazz band.
Here is a list of the art awards she has won – so far – just in an eighteen-month period:
- Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society Art Contest (an untitled colored-pencil drawing of a prairie chicken).
- Section 8AA Minnesota State High School (MSHSL) “Spotlight on Art” award, and she was featured in a MSHSL State Art exhibit (a pencil drawing entitled “Georgia”).
- Her second win in the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society Art Contest (a watercolor painting of a prairie chicken.)
- The Paramount Center for the Arts juried Arts Show and Competition, sponsored by the American Association of University Women (a watercolor painting entitled “Colorful Wonder,” which is a self-portrait based on a photo of herself when she was a young girl.)
- Wildlife Forever Art Competition Award (for a watercolor painting entitled “Sunfish”)
- Congressional Art Competition winner for Minnesota’s Sixth District (for a pencil drawing entitled “Pearl,” which will be on display next year in the nation’s Capitol building.)
After she won that congressional award, Sixth District Rep. Tom Emmer had this to say: “Congratulations to Lydia on winning this year’s Congressional Art Competition for her drawing in honor of her great-grandmother. That pencil drawing is incredible.”
Holmgren’s reaction to that bundle of awards?
“I was amazed to be honored,” she said. “I felt super-honored.”
She has been inspired by many artists, especially by the 19th Century French Impressionist painter Claude Monet. She has also enjoyed and pondered thousands of paintings and other art works in museums such as the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
Holmgren’s paintings and drawings contain a variety of nuanced, subtle coloration as well as some bold colors. Her ability to evoke the exquisite textures of objects is masterful.
One of her high-school art teachers, Michael Carlson, described her paintings as amazing and exciting.
“I love to capture details in my art works,” Holmgren said.
She often bases her paintings on photographs.
“I use different kinds of paper, depending on which medium (painting, pencil) I’m using,” she said. “I think I was only 1-year-old when I started drawing.”
And she’s loved drawing and painting ever since.
This is a photo of one of Lydia Holmgren’s award-winning art works, a watercolor painting of sunfish.
This pencil portrait drawn by Lydia Holmgren of her great-grandmother won top prize in the Congressional Art Contest. It will be exhibited in the U.S. National Capitol building.
Lydia Holmgren
Sixth District Congressman Tom Emmer congratulates Lydia Holmgren of Sartell (middle) for winning the annual Congressional Art Contest for a pencil drawing of her great-grandmother. At right is Lydia’s mother, Leah Holmgren.
