Gene Holtan Obituary

Gene Holtan
Jan. 28, 1930 - Nov. 20, 2016
Santa Cruz
Gene Holtan was born 1930 in Saskatchewan Canada. After studying and not graduating from the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art in Calgary, Alberta, he went on to study and not graduate form Art Center in Los Angeles. Financial demands of family life forced him from fine arts into a successful career as commercial artist, illustrating the occasional book, and for such clients as the NFL, Ramparts Magazine, Rolling Store, F-Troop (TV series title drawings), Saturday Evening Post, Neiman Marcus, Lady's Home Journal, and never-ending 4 Day tire ads in the Los Angeles Times. His renown as "not a man of few words" led to his year as president of the Society of Illustrators, and numerous stints as instructor at Chouinards and the Tutor Arts Program. Gene finally escaped commercial art, students, and grown children by moving in 1974 to Santa Cruz with Elizabeth Sanchez and two of her children. They lived on Beach Hill in the famous Green Gables Victorian.
Many lucky people wiled away hours at the dining room table in the Green Gables kitchen with Gene holding court and Elizabeth gracefully preparing her famous meals. Both Gene and Elizabeth pursued a life of art and adventure. Gene printed postcards on his printing press and the two of them would drive up and down the coast selling these postcards to book stores and galleries; the most famous of the postcards being the "Watch Cat "and the "No Puffin" cards.
All who have ever received a correspondence from Gene Holtan know how truly blessed they are. These letters were full of wit, and illustrated magically to reflect the personal relationship between himself and the recipient.
Gene spent the last fifteen years concentrating on fine art. He moved from his narrative style to abstract. Gene was prolific in his pursuit of abstract painting.
Gene passed away on November 30th. Gene's children and close friends visited him in his final days. Gene kept talking almost to the end. We are grateful for this.
The very last thing Gene said was, "Follow the instructions to the door. When you get to the door, throw the instructions away."

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Published by Santa Cruz Sentinel on Dec. 22, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Gene Holtan

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3 Entries

Leslie Engel

July 8, 2020

I did not know Gene, but my father, Robert, did, as a student at Chouinard. They stayed in touch after my parents moved to NY, and when my father sent Gene my birth announcement, he replied with what I now know to be one of his legendary letters.
I grew up with this art work framed and hanging above my bed until I was in high school. When I moved into my first apartment after college, I found it in my parents attic, reframed it, and took it with me.
I was just telling two artist friends about it, and looking up Genes name, found the obituary. I hope this note and photo find their way to his family so they can know what a wonderful and unique gift he created for me.

Ed Penniman

September 5, 2017

Darn, I learned from Marv Rubin that he had been in touch with Gene and that he passed. Gene was an interesting and unique fellow, brilliant, witty and talented, a excellent craftsman as well. I learned of the work of Gene when I was a student at Chouinard in the mid 60s. We became good friends and business colleagues in the 70s when he moved here to Santa Cruz. When I ran into he and Elizabeth on the Mall, I announced that he was a "Native" now, he always loved that coming from a native Cruzan. I have some wood type I collected from a small press in Garberville, CA, Gene pulled proofs of the collection, and write his amazing illuminated letters and I am delighted that I have them. They are beautiful and worth keeping. I should share them in some way. I will miss your spirit Gene, in the great spiritual minestrone soup of my life.

Allana (Hines) Stepp

June 11, 2017

Just today I learned of Gene's passing. Sorry I am a bit too late to tell him in person, "Thank you, Gene, you have contributed a positive influence in my life all these years since I was a student in your class (1964) at Chouinard Art School in LA. I am glad to read today that you had apparently lived your entire life as the vibrant and sharing person I knew way back when." Love and blessing to you and yours, love and blessings for us all.

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