Today's Featured Biography

 
Flavia Lockley Eckholm

My family moved to Pasadena at the beginning of my junior year, from a school in Seminole, Texas and before that, from a high school in El Paso. I had very few friends at Sam Rayburn because I came in so late towards the end of the high school system. My brother, Doug, who had been vice principle of my school in El Paso, was stricken with a heart attack and died in the spring of my junior year at Sam Rayburn. My family went through a traumatic time during my years of high school, so my attendance at Sam Rayburn was spotty in that first year.

At Rayburn, I was on the newspaper staff, in commercial art class, in the art club, and I did some creative writing. Sandy Lee and I were chosen to be featured artists for the senior art show.

After graduating, I was still unsure what I wanted to do, so I went to San Jacinto Junior College to see if I could figure out my path. I had several commercial commissions during that time, so art was taking the dominant role even there. I married my high school boyfriend, and gave birth to my beautiful, daughter, Tiffany, after dropping out of school for a bit.

When I returned to school after my divorce, I did so with much more determination and direction. I studied at the University of Houston under the focused instruction of Houston illustrator, Bob Wygant. I accomplished four years of Interior Design, a Fine Art Degree and completed a working portfolio to face the professional world of commercial and fine arts. Anyone who knew Bob, knew that to get his attention was to take on the challenge of years of work to get a strong portfolio and a command of all working techniques for job credentials.

From there, I worked in many disciplines. I owned and ran a flower shop, catering and servicing weddings, I did free lance commercial art work, I exhibited and sold my work in several area fine art galleries and I worked at Fluor Engineers and Constructors as a technical illustrator and public relations graphics artist. My interior design illustration gained some notice for commercial jobs in that field.

As my fine art began to sell, my career took a more focused route. My family moved to Austin, and I married the love of my life, Dennis Eckholm. From there, I began to seriously study the realm of fine art by going to three art schools and taking multiple workshops conducted by nationally known artists. I attended classes at the Academy of Art in Chicago for portrait and figure study, I became a member of the prestigious Palette and Chisel Academy, where the nationally renown artist, Richard Schmid was president of the school, I finished my landscape plein air studies at the Lyme Academy of Fine Art and finally, I was mentored by the internationally famous artist and good friend, James Reynolds.

My life as a fine artist has been a wonderful ride. My work has been exhibited in museum shows around the country, invitational shows, auctions and galleries. I travel through the country researching my subjects, doing my work and showing work in a variety of venues. Our last move to Newcastle, Oklahoma has introduced me to the heartland of the country, where I have begun painting the country subjects and landscapes. My latest project is researching raptors and other birds to include in my landscapes. Oklahoma has very good rescue projects for eagles and other raptors, which provide a wealth of material for my work. I currently work primarily in oils, silver and gold point drawings.

Dennis and I work on home projects together. We have built and re-built several homes for sale in Texas and Arizona. This last move is going to be a longer project; taking our time before we decide when we want to sell. We have grandkids to entertain and occasional personal time and road trips in which to indulge. Our daughter and son in law live in Austin, so it’s a short trip to visit them.

My life has been rich, scary, rewarding and challenging. I look forward to meeting some of my classmates online; most for the first time.

VIEW ALL BIOGRAPHIES