OCTOBER 26, 2009:  It's been a good year with shows and displays every month, including October.  For the months of November and December, however, I will be taking time off from shows to host some friends visiting from England, and to enjoy the holidays.  In January, I will be having surgery on my foot, so I will be atking an addition few months off before returning to the art show scene.  However, I will continue to enter contest that require online activity, and will also continue posting new photos to be available for purchase in the galleries section.  Keep checking back.  Have a great holiday and new year!

JULY 21, 2009:  For the entire month of August, I will have select pieces on display and available for purchase at two branches of the Bank of Botetourt.  At the 19747 Main St, Buchanan branch, you can see my new line of floral art!  Also included in this show will be "Sad Poodle", which was given the same treatment as much of the floral art. At the Trouteville branch at 5462 Lee Highway, Trouteville, you can see my two award winning pieces: "Modesty" and "Office Space", with select others from my most popular collection.

JULY 6, 2009:  Next Saturday, July 11 from 10:00-3:00pm, I will have my entire inventory of award winning photography, copies of my written work and a LOT of my Clam-It jewelry and nick-nacks.  ALL of my Clam-Its will be at clearance prices, and so will some of the photography.  This event will be held at the Vinton Farmers Market behind the post office in Downtown Vinton.  Hope to see you there!

JULY 6, 2009:  Last week, I dropped off 12 photographs for display and competition at the Salem Fair.  I'm happy to announce that 3 of those photos won 1st place in their respective classes!  They will remain on display through July 11.

MAY 24, 2009:  Coming up on Sunday, May 24, there will be a gathering of animal shelter organizations at Six Wags Dog Park on Apperson Drive (behind the Food Lion) from 11:00am - 2:00pm, I will be doing pet photography on-site.  Please come support your local shelters and bring your animals for portraits!

MAY 20, 2009:  There is a new gallery on this site!  It's for my new line of artistic florals.  These are images that began as simple pictures I took of flowers, but after treatment in Photoshop, are now available as breathtaking works of art!  Please use the navigation list on the right and choose "professional photo galleries" to view the Floral Art Gallery.

May 01, 2009:  I have just been selected as a featured artist for Vinton's Art Market to be held next Saturday, May 09, 2009 at the Vinton Farmer's Market.  I will have a very large portion of my existing inventory there, including many items at clearance prices from $1.00 - $10.00!

April 28, 2009:  Many new photos have been added to the galleries section of this website.  Check the floral gallery and Petraits for new photos.  Also, I have added a new gallery featuring the photos from top performing Celtic Rock band, Enter the Haggis!

April 28, 2009:  My show at Bank of Botetourt is nearly done.  Beginning May 1st and running through the end of June, I will have seleted works on display and available for purchase at Walking Working Art.  801 Campbell Avenue SW, Roanoke VA 24016.  Call 540-761-1411 for more information.

April 10, 2009:  Vickie Holt's internationally award winning photograph "Modesty" has been chosen as a finalist for the 4th Annual Permanent Art Collection show at the Roanoke Rescue Mission.  Winners will be announced at a public reception on Sunday, May 3rd at 2:00pm.  All pieces in the show will remain on display through Friday, June 5.

March 29, 2009:  During the month of April, 2009, selected works will be on display and available for purchase at Bank of Botetourt, 19747 Main St, Buchanan VA 24066   Call (540) 254-1721‎ for more information.

March 25, 2009:  After seeing the 1-hour documentary "The Vanishing Frog", hosted by Jeff Corwin, I have joined the effort to save the planet's amphibian species from the devastating Chytrid Fungus that has been sweeping over the face of the planet since the 1930's when an African species that carried the fungus was shipped all over the world for medical purposes.  In the last 30 years alone, nearly 1/3 of the world's species of amphibian have become extinct.  In one season alone, entire populations of infected waterways have been decimated.  The threat is very real.  Lose the frogs and you not only lose many species that rely on them for food (in turn losing everything that relies on the predators), but you also lose an entire family of animals dedicated to insect control.  Even closer to home, many of our medicines are derived from frog and amphibian research.  As part of my effort, I will be gathering population and environment condition information from a waterway local to my home.  This information will be input directly into a database (supplied by many more information gatherers) that scientists will be using to reasearch this issue and hopefully find an answer.  In addition to this effort, I have also joined several other photographers in posting my original wildlife photos of frogs and other amphibians that I find while doing my reseach.  This gallery can be found here:  http://www.savethefrogs.com/gallery/main.php?g2_page=2   There are only 4 photos in it so far, but check back throughout the summer for more.  Also, use the "Return to SAVE THE FROGS!" link at the bottom left of the gallery page to visit the main website and learn more.

WINNER!  ANNOUNCHED FEBRUARY 24, 2009:  PHOTO "MODESTY" BY VICKIE HOLT WON SECOND PLACE IN THE BETTERPHOTO.COM MONTHLY CONTEST - CATEGORY: ELEMENTS OF DESIGN.  THERE WERE OVER 20,600 ENTRIES WORLD WIDE.  THIS IS A PRESTIGIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT, AS THIS CONTEST ATTRACTS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ENTRIES FROM PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS AROUND THE WORLD EACH MONTH!  SEE IT HERE:  http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Gallery.aspx?id=234574&cat=0&photoID=6972395&mp=V1

LOTS OF NEW PHOTOS!  The new camera is awesome!  I'm still getting a feel for all its capabilities, and as a result, have many new pictures for folks to see.  I'm having a great time with shutter speed and stopping fast action.  It's mostly birds and fish, but you can see them in the gallery pages linked to the right, or on the BetterPhoto.com website:  http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/default.aspx?id=234574&mp=V1

MARCH 26:  I have been accepted as a contributing artist to the Bread & Butter Art Show and Sale to be held on the Second Floor Galleries in Center of the Square, downtown Roanoke.  It's one night only!  Thursday, March 26, 2009 from 5:00 to 9:00.  I have the ability to display up to 15 pieces, but not certain yet how many I will take. Go to this website for more information:  http://www.theartscouncil.org/

ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009 - Angels of Assisi Animal Shelter will be holding an "Adopt-a-thon" from 5:00pm - Midnight.  For this event, I will be on hand with studio set up, offering on-the-spot pet photography.  Sitting fee is normally $40.00, but for anyone bringing a donation for the shelter, you can get 50% off the sitting fee!  Also, if you adopt a pet THAT NIGHT, your sitting fee is FREE (for your new pet, OR an existing one you bring with you!)  Donations needed are:  FOOD (cats or dogs, Purina ONLY), KITTY LITTER (the gravel kind), OLD SHEETS/TOWELS/NEWSPAPERS, and of course MONEY is always appreciated.  For more information, please visit the Angels of Assisi website: http://www.angelsofassisi.org/

February 27-28 and March 1, 2009:  I will have seven pieces featured in the art show for the SheVaCon science fiction convention to be held at Holiday Inn, Tanglewood.  In addition to the pieces in the show formal, I will also be displaying more pieces in my private room for interested parties.  4468 Starkey Road, Roanoke, VA 24014.  Contact 540-342-1492 for more information regarding the display of art by Vickie Holt.  Also:  I will be set up for the duration of the convention for taking portraits at a special, reduced price for these three days only!  The sitting fee, normally $40.00, will be only $20.00 for this weekend!  Finished product also available at discounted prices!  I will also have a select number of finished and mounted artistic pieces that I will be offering at clearance prices of $5.00 - $10.00! 

February 1, 2009:  NEWS - As of Wednesday, February 3, I will be a memeber of the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge.  You will be able to see my listing in their directory here:  http://theartscouncil.org/artists/artist_list.php  Being a member of this council will provide for me more information about shows and festivals than I would ordinarily be privvy to.  Also, it will provide me more opportinities for networking.  In 2009, I hope to be part of at least 1 gallery show or festival each month.  So far, I am doing well. In January, I had the WVTF show.  In February, SheVaCon.  In March, I hope to be part of the Bread & Butter Art show, which will be held in the Second Floor Galleries of Center in the Square.  I have sent my submission, but will not know until March 6 if I have been chosen. 

On February 3, I will finally be receiving my long awaited new camera!  It will be a monumental upgrade from my current Panasonic Lumix.  I will be getting a state of the art, top of the line Olympus E-3.  http://www.olympusamerica.com/e3/    This cameras will allow me to do so much more, and I can't wait to start experimenting and playing!  Keep your eyes open on my gallery pages for amazing new images each week!

And speaking of gallery pages, it's long overdue that I mention my activity on BetterPhoto.com.  This is an international, prestigious online community where photographers display their work, attend classes, network and enter contests.  I have a gallery in this community that can be viewed here:  http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/default.aspx?id=234574&mp=V1   Nearly 40,000 individual entries world wide are received each month in their contests.  On this page, you will be able to see my photographs that have won, been finalists, and that have been chosen by their team of professional editors as "editors picks", which are like semi-finalists.

January 05, 2009:  From January 05 - January 31, 2009, sixty-seven pieces of my work will be featured at the WVTF art Gallery for their artist of the month series.  A reception will be held January 9 from 5:00 - 7:00pm.  For the remainder of the month, gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm.  3520 Kingsbury Lane, Roanoke, VA 24014.  Contact the studio directly for more information:  540-989-8900. 

September 23, 2008:  Beginning Monday, September 29, two of my pieces "Modesty" and "Letting Go" will be appearing at 18 Kirk Avenue SW in downtown Roanoke in the "Salon Des Refuses" as part of the Roanoke City Art show scheduled as part of the grand opening for Roanoke's new art museum.  The Salon will run until November 2, 2008.  The hours are Monday - Wednesday 6:00 - 9:00PM and Sundays from 2:00-5:00PM.

April 17: I received notification from the Rescue Mission of Roanoke City that all three of my entries made the cut for final pieces to appear in their 3rd annual Permanent Art Collection series.  There are only 32 pieces in the final judging, three of which are mine.  The pieces are "Letting Go", "Reflections of the Past Within the Future", and "Sunset Alley" - all of which can be seen in the photo galleries in the navigation list to the right.  Though this is completely a charity event, some of the biggest art collecting names in Roanoke will be attending.  The winner receives 3 months front window space for their displays at the Art on a Mission store in Tanglewood Mall!  The reception and final judging will be held Sunday, May 4th at 2:00 pm at the Rescue Mission facilities.  Wish me luck!

On May 3, I will be holding an in-home gallery show at my own home.

March 29:  The next show in my Home Gallery show series was held at the home of Becky Milliner.  Items sold were my much admired Clam-It Fly driftwood wall hanging.  Also sold were 3 pairs of Clam-It earrings, an 8x10 copy of "Heron In Blue", and a canvas mounted copy of "Destitute".

On March 5, it was finalized that three of my photos will be published in the area attractions section of the 2008 edition of the Roanoke Yellow Pages book.  The photos are "Grandin Theater", Texas Tavern" and "Sun and Star" - all of which can be viewed in the photo gallery for Roanoke by clicking the photo galleries link to the right.

April 18-20, I will have 12 pieces in the art show at RavenCon.  http://www.ravencon.com/   RavenCon is now over, and I sold three pieces.  In the art show itself, I sold the 11x14 matted copy of "Cletic Skull".  On Sunday afternoon, I was seated in the hallway with some of my pieces on a table in front of me.  The buyer of "Cletic Skull" found me and asked if it was possible to get a smaller version of the same piece for him to give to a friend.  It just so happened that I had the 8x10 piece with me, so the buyer was able to purchase on the spot.  Also, his friend purchased an 8x10 copy of "Sunset Moon".

March 1-2:  I had my second and third sessions with Angels of Assisi.  On Saturday, I went to the downtown adoption center and photographed cats and dogs.  On Sunday, I went to Botetourt to visit their farm where I photographed dozens of animals.  Cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks and a donkey.  I am also continuing visits of the Angels of Assisi shelter, downtown.

On February 23, I was attending the SheVaCon Science Fiction Convention in my capacity as a writer.  However, I was armed with a great deal of framed photo work, as well.  It turned out that some of the people who had booked space in the art show did not come, and I was able to hang my work officially.  Before I even had the forth piece hung, one of the first three got a bid.  By the end of the show, 2 pieces were sold in the show, and a third went to auction.  A forth piece was sold that Sunday, just an hour after leaving the con, to another con guest.   The pieces sold were: "Proud", "Crystal Blue-Da-Scope", "Celtic Skull" and "Bald Eagle".  Check them out in the photo galleries!

On February 22, I received an invitation to submit my work to the 3rd Annual Permanent Art Collection Competition for the Rescue Mission in Roanoke, Virginia.  Winners will be spotlighted on the rescue mission's website http://www.rescuemission.net/core.html, two months window display at Art on a Mission in Tanglewood Mall, and listed in the Mission Lobby for prospective buyers.  Wish me luck!

On February 29, I will have my second in-home art show with hostess Rhonda Moore.    Follow-Up:  The show went very well.  Despite a small turnout, the evening was successful and everyone had a great time.  Pieces sold were "Arches and Lines", "Mill Mountain Star", "H&C Coffee Sign", "Dr. Pepper Sign", "Yellow", and "Sunset Bridge".  One more in-home party was booked by next hostess, Becky Milliner, for March.  Date to be determined.

On February 17, I had my first photo session with Angels of Assisi.  I photographed 25 cats and dogs, and had a wonderful time.  The purpose of these photos will be for the shelter's adoption efforts.  I will be continuing to donate my services as photographer to this very worthy organization.  Please see their web page  http://www.angelsofassisi.org/animals/browse   You can also see some of my photography there on their list of pets for adoption. 

Selected framed pieces are currently on display and available for purchase at Essentials Massage in downtown Roanoke.  420 Church Avenue.  Please visit their website at www.EssentialsMassageTherapy.com

On January 26, 2008, I had my first In Home Art Show.  This was held at the home of a volunteer hostess, and attracted 20 guests.  For holding the show, the hostess received a free 8x10 framed piece of her choice!  It was a successful show, and the artistic photo titled "Suicide Peeps" was very popular.  It sold 3 copies!  If you want to host a show, please email me at vickieholt@cox.net

4 x 6       5x7     8x10      11x14      16x20      24x36

Kaleidoscopes are available in:

5x5          6x6          12x12          24x24

Also, if you are a publisher or editor and amonge these images you see a photo that would be desirable for your publication, Vickie would be happy to discuss this with you.  Please contact vickieholt@cox.net

http://www.theindychannel.com/education/11119883/detail.html

Imagine how further intrigued I was then, by last week's news of chimpanzees habitually and consistently making even more sophisticated weapons!  No one has yet reported that chimps are using these weapons for fighting one another, but many have been observed making spears, with which they hunt for prey.   For the first time in human history, we are able to actually observe the emergence of practical intelligence, crafting and tool making in a creature other than ourselves.  It opens a direct and up close look at the emergence of ourselves, so many millennia ago.  How much more exciting can an event become?

This is amazing news.  Bigger, more important, impacting and profound than any political story that has ever graced the headlines.  Please take the time to visit these links for more information on this revolutionary (and evolutionary) discovery!

http://www.blog4brains.com/2007/02/26/new-discovery-chimpanzees-making-weapons/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6387611.stm

http://newsfeedresearcher.com/data/articles_t9/idt2007.02.26.06.26.44.html

For now, however, let me say that this is a chapbook filled with a wide variety of material and some awesome artwork from four different artists!

Here is a list of contents that fill this book's 149 pages:

"Sweet is Revenge": an excerpt from my novel "Vengeance Is Mine".  It's a monologue by the character of Lacroix.

"Before the Invasion":  An article about the historic contributions to the development of Rock 'n' Roll by England's first mega-rock start, Tommy Steel.  The article was first published in Blue Suede News Magazine in February of 2005.

"The Color of Time":  Poem.  First published in the online magazine "Horizons", and later brought to life by a dramatic reading that can be found on "Whispers in the Dark"; a CD of dramatic readings from DragonsLair Studios.

"Untitled" a very short, but effective 2-line poem.

"Possible Reasons Behind the School Shooting Epidemic of the Last Decade":  a speculative essay.

"Of Cabbages and Queens": a longer-than-short short story.  It is a typical fantasy story about sons of noblemen going to war with sorcerous queens and becoming heroes, but the twist is that the text of the story neatly uses 100 song titles by the legendary rock group, Queen.  This story was first published in Powerstar Magazine in 1997.

"Lost in the Daylight":  A poem written for an old musician friend about a rock star's isolation.

"Possible Explanation for the Nature and Purpose of Dreams":  A speculative, scientific essay that might add another choice to dream explanation.  No interpretation here.  Just a theory based on the properties of electricity and the known parameters of human physiology.

"Cranio Morto": an abstract poem.

"Star Struck": an intricate poem

"The Fire Is Dying": an essay on the loss of human spirit, first published in Collage Magazine in 1996.

"Theory on Gravity and Its Possible Effects on Dinosaurs and Avian Evolution": a speculative essay about how an increasing force of evolution over the course of the earth's history may have been responsible not only for the size dinosaurs managed to obtain, but why they may have developed feathers and wings.  Though never published, this essay did get a couple of nods in the scientific community.

"The Vision of Lydia Bates":  a short story about a phone psychic who has to deal with the fact that, one day, she did have a real psychic experience...one that could change the course of the future.

"Violence is Not the Answer...Wanna Bet?":  an essay about the good uses of violence, and how turning our backs on it can cause unbalance.  First published in Collage Magazine in 1996.

"House of Mirrors": a five-minute skit written and performed in 2005 at Roanoke's "No Shame Theater".  Also chosen for that season's "Best of No Shame" special event.

"The Fire Child":  A faerie-tale style story, first published in "New Dominions" in 1995.  A young girls longs to follow in the footsteps of a community's ancient heroine by allowing herself to be taken by the forces of nature.

"Ancient Mesopotamia's Contributions to Modern Judaism, Christianity and Islam - and the Possible Original Homeland of the Hebrew People": a speculative essay based on research, outlining the striking similarities between Mesopotamian Mythology and the oldest stories from the three largest modern religions.

Clam-Its are creations of all kinds made from fresh water clam shells.  Specifically, fresh water clam shells gathered by myself from the shores - and even the lake bottom - of Virginia's own Smith Mountain Lake.  From these shells, I have created jewelry (necklaces, earrings and pins), arts (driftwood arrangements for setting out or hanging on the wall)  and crafts (mobiles, "buddies" refrigerator magnets and more!).  The shells are beautiful.  Please check out the store to see many images of the products available.

Check out this page for a history of smith mountain lake:  http://www.visitsmithmountainlake.com/History.htm