A Cornwall-based artist is celebrating a major career milestone after her innovative artwork was chosen for a prestigious London exhibition. Lucinda Holland's oil painting featuring a small owl in trompe-l'oeil style has been selected for the ING Discerning Eye exhibition 2025 at the Mall Galleries, marking a significant achievement in her artistic journey.
The remarkable piece showcases Holland's mastery of the "trick of the eye" technique, depicting a small owl appearing to fly directly out of its frame. The artwork is painted with oil on wood, and Holland has carefully cut the wooden base to enhance the three-dimensional illusion of the owl emerging from its box-like frame.
"The show received over 6,500 entries from artists across the UK and only a few hundred were selected, so I'm thrilled to be among them," said Holland, who is based in St. Austell where she cares for her elderly mother. "It's a fantastic opportunity to have my work shown alongside artists from all over the country in a prestigious London venue."
Holland's path to professional artistry began through profound personal tragedy. Previously working as a graphic and web designer, her life took a dramatic turn after losing her partner of 25 years to suicide in 2023. In seeking solace during this difficult period, she unexpectedly discovered healing through art and found she possessed an innate ability for highly detailed work. Encouraged by others' positive reactions to her creations, Holland transitioned to professional art last year, initially specializing in pet portraits and animal depictions.
This year has marked an evolution in Holland's artistic focus as she has moved toward creating more narrative-driven and conceptual still life compositions. Her work now combines her fascination with illusionary art and nature, resulting in sophisticated trompe-l'oeil pieces that challenge viewers' perceptions of reality.
Holland's artistic process reflects her commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship. "I take great care in selecting my wood and have sustainability in mind at all times," she explained. "The owl piece is sourced from an antique chest of drawers that was broken in bits. I carefully prepare and cut the wood to size, then carve the edges by hand to enhance the three-dimensional effect and deepen the illusionary perspective."
Her work explores themes that capture the natural world's beauty, often presented in framed box compositions that blur the line between reality and illusion. "Through the beauty of realism and the illusionary effects of trompe-l'oeil, I strive to make each piece feel alive and full of delightful emotion," Holland said. "There's something magical about transforming nature into art, and I'm honored and grateful to have found the hidden skill I have, and the opportunity to share the results."
Holland's artistic philosophy centers on the human connection to nature and wildlife. "There is something profoundly compelling about how we project our own emotions and narratives onto creatures that experience the world in ways we can never fully understand," she reflected. "We humanize their gestures, their gazes, their postures – and so I endeavor to evoke joy and humor in the viewer derived from the expressions and poses of the creatures I create."
The artist sees her work as offering respite in an increasingly fast-paced world. "Time is precious, yet our fast-paced lives rarely let us stop and savor the beauty and wonder around us," Holland observed. "I create art for those who wish to pause, reconnect and experience a mesmerizing lifelike scene they might otherwise never witness."
Drawing from her personal experience of loss, Holland aims to provide comfort and joy through her artistic creations. "Born from my own journey of loss, I seek to offer comfort, awe, peace and joy through my art, both for myself and other people," she said. Before her current artistic career, Holland spent considerable time in the Middle East working in branding, advertising, and marketing, experiences that now inform her understanding of visual communication and artistic presentation.
