After graduating from Enid High School, "H" attended Oklahoma State University and graduated from the Texas Academy of Art in Houston. He then began his art career in the commercial art field, working in Wichita, Kansas and in Houston, Texas, where he eventually took the position of art director at Horseman Magazine. While working during the day for other folks, "H" began his fine art career at night, painting and sculpting his first love, the West.

After a tour of duty with the Navy in Vietnam, "H" ventured out on his own in 1973, to try and make it as a professional fine artist. Commissions from the National Cattlemen’s Association from 1982-1986 helped and collectors began taking notice of his work.

"H" was a member of the Texas Cowboy Artists Association (TCA) and the National Western Artists Association and received numerous gold medals in both organizations for his paintings and sculptures. He is known for his attention to detail, and particularly his sculptures of horses. Believing that an artist should know his subject matter, "H" spends much of his leisure time team roping and staying close to the cowboy way of life.

In 1987 “H” was chosen to sculpt a series of commemorative bronzes to depict the 165 year history of the Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma and Kansas.  That same year he completed his first of many monuments, “Boomer” for the City of Enid, Oklahoma.  Since that date H has completed  or is working on 19 additional monuments for placement in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. (See Monuments).

His work has been reproduced on the August 1981 and April 1987 covers of Western Horseman Magazine, and in it's February 1996 Gallery. Cowboy magazine featured H’s work on their Summer 1996 and Winter 2006 covers.  His work is in the book “The Texas Cowboy”, published by TCU Press as well as in the book “Contemporary Western Artists”.  H’s images have been featured on the Vernon Company Calendars since 1995.  Various articles have appeared about his work in Art of the West, Southwest Art and Persimmon Hill magazines.

"H's" work is included in the museum collections of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma State Capitol, the Ranching Heritage Museum in Lubbock, Texas, the Whitney Gallery at the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming, the Elizabeth Dunnegan Gallery of Fine Art in Bolivar, Missouri, the Museum of the Cherokee Strip in Enid, Oklahoma and the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.

H’s commission work and collections include:

National Bank of Commerce
United States Postal Service
Oklahoma Arts Council
National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
Oklahoma State University
American Quarter Horse Association
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Ranching Heritage Center
Ward Petroleum Company
Johnston Grain Company
Archer-Daniels Midland Company
City of Owasso
Air Force Association
Keystone Resort – Keystone Colorado
Hughes Drilling Company
Oklahoma Centennial Commission
City of OKC – Will Rogers World Airport
Oklahoma History Center
University of Central Oklahoma
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Representative shows include:

Prix de West at the National Cowboy Museum in OKC
Masters of the American West at the Autry Museum in L. A.
Cheyenne Frontier Days
Peppertree Ranch Art Show in Santa Ynez, Ca.
Mountain Oyster show in Tucson, AZ.
Haley Library show in Midland, Tx.
Gilcrease Miniature show in Tulsa, OK.
C. M Russell show in Great Falls, MT.

For information on H’s work or commissions, please contact:

ednamae@hholden.com

Edna Mae Holden
P. O. Box 3833
Enid, OK. 73702
580-541-3717                  cell
580-233-6306                  fax
580-874-2360           home/studio