36th Annual AT&T Norfolk Harborfest Commemorative Poster
Created By Bob Holland
Please Purchase your 2012 Harborfest Poster HERE

Please Purchase your 2012 Harborfest Poster HERE

ABOUT THE POSTER : The artwork is Commemorating the Bicentenial of the War of 1812 and the writing of the Star-Spangled Banner. The ships in the scenario are the tall ships, Old Ironsides, and The USS CONSTITUTION; the oldest ship in commission in the United States Navy. The LHD 1 USS WASP is the host ship and will be the official viewing platform for the Parade of Sail into Hampton Roads. The Coast Guard Buoy Tender is the FRANK DREW based in Portsmouth, and exemplifies the important roll the Coast Guard plays in Hampton Roads and our communities. The aircraft of the USS WASP are represented by the SEAKNIGHT helicopters and remain on constant vigil.

BOB HOLLAND BIO

Bob Holland is a painter of varied subject matter from tall ships to Colonial Williamsburg, and even calls on his Industrial Design and automobile design experience to explore shapes and scenes that some label as "Sci-Fi", which the Artist names his "Visionary series".

Born and raised in Hampton , Va. Bob studied art under Peninsula artist Jack Clifton in his early teens for a good foundation in the arts, and the inspiration to know which direction to pursue career wise. An early understanding of the economic practicality of being an artist led him to a Commercial Art ( BFA ) degree at what is now Virginia Commonwealth University, and even further, pursuing a degree in Industrial Design from the Art Center School of Design in Pasadena ,California.
The Ford Motor Company in Dearborn Michigan offered Bob a position in styling right out of school, a great experience in the design process from A-Z and including the conceptual renderings of future products. This experience was invaluable to a young designer and even included consumer product design with Philco-Ford in Philadelphia.
Not a Northerner, climate wise, Bob brought his young family home to Tidewater when made aware of an Industrial Design opportunity in Portsmouth with General Electric. He spent eighteen years with GE and left in 1987 as Design Manager of Projection and Small screen Television.
Meanwhile the real artist in Bob was doing outdoor shows, indoor exhibits, and competitions, and all of the things necessary to develop skills and recognition with his paintings, hopefully to apply them to becoming a full time artist in the future.

When GE moved its facilities to Indianapolis in 1987 Bob was forced to make the decision to go, write and send resumes or stay here in Virginia and pursue that dream.
The rest is history! The new career was launched at the d'Art Center in Norfolk, minus the corporate benefits and salary. Some might call that move stupid or irresponsible, and economically be pretty much on the mark! It has been an interesting experience.

Bob has maintained a downtown studio at the d'Art Center since its early beginnings as it has been a great studio, meeting, and exhibit space, and was there at the right time and place for the new career move.
This is actually the fourth poster Bob has done for Harborfest® beginning with 1990. It was the most challenging of them all due to the details and research involved, and the attempt to capture this momentous event for HARBORFEST of 2012.
"I am pleased with the final work and hopefully it will be accepted well by the many patrons who purchase these prints annually.

I understand there are some pretty serious collectors out there and I hope they will be pleased this year" said Bob.