5 Minutes With Hollie Louise Studio | Perth Artist

At Ray White Keevers Group, we’re passionate about celebrating the people who make our coastal community so vibrant. From local cafés and small businesses to talented creatives, our 5 Minutes With series shines a spotlight on the faces behind some of Perth’s inspiring local brands.

In this edition, we caught up with Hollie Louise Studio to chat about rediscovering her love of painting, finding inspiration in everyday moments, and why trusting the creative process has become the foundation of her work.

How did your journey into art begin?

I was always drawing as a child — creating girls and imagining little stories about their lives. It was my way of playing.

I drifted away from art in my teenage years, but found my way back in my early 30s when I stepped into an art teaching role. Encouraging my students to value their creativity ended up reigniting my own, and that’s what led me to pick up the brush again.

How would you describe your style in one sentence?

Calm, coastal Australian-inspired work with muted tones, often carrying a quiet story beneath the surface.

Where do you find inspiration for your pieces?

My inspiration comes in different ways — sometimes it’s a colour combination, a landscape, a flower, or even just an image that sparks something. When that happens, I feel an immediate pull to start and bring that feeling onto the canvas.

Do you have a favourite piece you’ve created?

My favourite piece is Earth Daughter. It came from nowhere — I actually painted it on an old piece of plywood and didn’t expect much from it. But she just came together, and that painting reignited my love for creating faces again.

What does your creative process look like from idea to finished piece?

It’s different every time. Sometimes I’ll just start by putting paint down and letting the piece evolve intuitively, slowly building it up layer by layer. Other times I’ll begin with a sketch, or work from a photo using a grid to map it out.

No matter how it starts, it almost always ends with multiple layers. I love building depth and richness through layering.

What does a typical day in your studio look like?

Music is always playing — usually a mix of 80s and 90s classics, along with The Teskey Brothers and Fleetwood Mac.

My process is quite fluid. I’ll put a layer down, step away, come back, sit with it, and then go again. It’s a rhythm between painting and observing.

I genuinely have so much fun with it — and on a Friday or Saturday night, it might even include a sneaky glass of red.

One tool or material you couldn’t live without?

Gamvar gloss varnish.

It’s the final step that brings everything to life. The richness of the colours comes back, and there’s something so satisfying about applying it and seeing the painting truly come alive.

What’s something people would be surprised to learn about being an artist?

There are usually a lot of “bad” paintings underneath the final one — layers that didn’t work, ideas that changed, and moments of doubt.

What people see in the end is often the result of pushing through all of that.

What do you hope people feel when they see your work?

I hope they’re drawn to the colours and the playfulness in the work, and that they can sense I had fun making it.

I want it to feel like more than just a painting — like the result of passion, joy and the freedom of creating.

Has your art style evolved over time?

I’m not sure my style has changed all that much, but my skills definitely have.

I’ve always been drawn to a similar style, but in the beginning my ability didn’t quite match my ideas. It’s taken a few years to build that muscle memory where my hand and brain work together more seamlessly, so I can better translate what I’m envisioning onto the canvas.

What’s been your biggest lesson as a creative business owner?

I’ve learned that when you paint for yourself — what you genuinely love, rather than what you think others will like — the work is always stronger.

The pieces I’ve sold, or that people have connected with most, are usually the ones I had the most fun creating, where I let go of hesitation and just trusted the process.

What’s next for you?

My plan is really just to keep creating. I think I’ll always be creating for the rest of my life.

I want to keep exploring new things — I’ve recently started playing around with clay, so who knows where that might lead one day.

At the moment, there’s no fixed plan. I just want to keep following whatever inspires me, without rules or pressure, and enjoy the process of being a creative person.

Where can people find your work?

You can follow Hollie’s creative journey on Instagram at@hollie.louise.studio, where she shares her latest paintings, behind-the-scenes glimpses into her process, and links to available original works through her website.

Quick Fire

Art, to me, is…
Happiness and freedom.

I feel most creative when…
I’m calm and relaxed, or feeling excited about life and the future.

The best ideas come when…
They actually come out of nowhere, but when they do, it feels immediate — like I have to start creating straight away.