Is there a fine art paper capable of capturing the vibrant landscapes in your acrylic paintings?

DISCOVER THE TWO RED RIVER PAPER PRODUCTS THIS ARTIST USES IN HER AMBITIOUS PARK-PAINTING PROJECT.

“The Park Painter”

With a brush in hand and a mission in her heart, Kristin Holzer transforms natural beauty into colorful acrylic landscapes. The Columbia, South Carolina-based artist works in what she calls a "loose realistic style," bringing to life the splendor of state and national parks. She embarked on her artistic career full-time in 2021 with an ambitious goal: painting every South Carolina State Park and U.S. National Park — over 100 parks total.

We can see Kristin's personal connection to America's parks through four striking paintings. Appearing above is Utah's Arches National Park, with its vibrant orange hues captured during a family cross-country road trip. Below, the collection flows from a breathtaking Acadia National Park sunset photographed during a 2023 trip with her husband, to the iconic avenue of oaks at South Carolina's Charles Towne Landing, and concludes with her beloved Devils Fork State Park in her home state, where Lake Jocassee's clear waters meet serene blue mountains.

Enter Red River Paper

Quality paper is essential for reproducing Kristin's colorful acrylic artwork. She utilizes two of our premium products: 60lb. Polar Matte, with its bright white tone for amazing contrast that enhances bold colors and smooth tonal transitions; and 60lb. River Linen Paper, featuring a matte surface that has a slight sheen when printed. “People often think the prints are the original pieces because the quality is so fantastic!” Kristin tells us. “I paint with very saturated colors, and the paper picks up the vibrancy so well.”

See More of Kristin's Work

Follow Kristin's journey to paint 100+ parks through her website KristinHolzerArt.com and Instagram. Her online gallery features completed park paintings alongside commissioned portraits of beloved pets, homes, and meaningful human moments. Check out her artist in residency experience at Dreher Island State Park for a fun little story about staging cicadas. To discover why parks are so close to Kristin's heart, explore our Q&A below.

Enjoy our Q&A with Kristin Holzer

What year was your business founded and how did you get started?
I started my business in January 2022, a couple of months after my husband and I moved to Columbia, South Carolina. I was painting scenes around our area to explore my new home and found that others also loved my art. I started selling artwork at local markets, and my business has grown from there!

Tell us a little about what product or service your business offers.
I am an acrylic painter. I focus on painting South Carolina State Parks, U.S. National Parks, and local scenes around where I live. I mainly sell prints (using Red River Paper, of course!) but also sell the original paintings. I also paint on wood slices, which allows people to purchase original paintings for less.

What makes your business unique?
I paint landscapes and architecture that spark memories in people. I love hearing people's stories related to a location I have painted. My South Carolina State Park collection has been my most popular series so far. My community of art collectors loves following along on my journey to paint every park and share the finished products with others.

Where do you source your raw materials from?
I use Red River Paper for fine art paper (Polar Matte 60lb and River Linen 60lb), ClearBags for backing board and print packaging, and Michaels and BLICK for most other painting supplies.

In what ways does the business reflect your own personality?
My business is directly tied to my name, and so it's direct reflection of my personality and values. I started creating art when I was a little girl, and my favorite way to create was to paint memories I had from my travels and vacations with my family. I loved giving those paintings as gifts to those I shared the memories with. My art reflects my love of adventure, nature, and creating memories with the people I love.

Who are your typical customers?
Fellow travel and nature-loving people! Anyone who has a story to tell related to a landscape or place that I have painted.

What is the most interesting project you've encountered in the course of your work?
I'm not sure how "interesting" you can get with painting realism, but the most challenging project I have run across is deciding what to paint in each state park in South Carolina. While each park has something unique to offer, it can be difficult to find something to paint that is recognizable yet different from my other state park paintings. And with about 50 state parks, I have a lot of different scenes to paint!

What has Red River Paper done for your business? Is there a particular challenge Red River Paper helped you overcome or a goal they helped you met?
When it comes to making prints, I don't know what I would have done without Red River Paper! I jumped into print-making with little to no knowledge, so trying to figure out everything on my own was overwhelming. Red River Paper's resources helped me so much in getting the print-making side of my business running.

Which Red River Paper products do you use, and what do you appreciate most about them?
The quality of the prints is incredible! People often think the prints are the original pieces because the quality is so fantastic! I paint with very saturated colors, and the paper picks up the vibrancy so well. 

Do you have any future growth plans?
My goal is to get my art into more brick-and-mortar businesses and galleries! I love doing markets, but it's a lot to handle every weekend. I will be reaching out to state parks, galleries, and visitor centers to get my art hanging on more walls and available for sale.

Would you like to share a customer testimonial?
This testimonial speaks to why I paint locations inspired by my own travels and those of my clients for commission work:

"The ‘Lobster Pot' painting truly captured the essence of that great restaurant in Provincetown on Cape Cod. I gave it as a gift to my daughter and son-in-law. Every time I pass it, it brings back the best memories of our trip."

Original Publication Date: April 30, 2025

Article Last updated: April 30, 2025

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