Sandy Holden was born in Chicago. She was a fun-loving, gregarious girl who loved to draw pictures and ride her horse Sonny in competition. At 15, Sandy dove off of a boat into shallow water and broke her neck. Sandy says, “I lost  my horse, and my body all in the same year.” But Sandy is a strong willed survivor. After months of spine and neck surgery and rehab at Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, one of 22 non-profit, free hospitals across America, she resumed her life. During those months, Sandy continued to pursue her art. She painted a 4x4-foot painting that was hung in the parent’s waiting room while their children were in surgery. She painted on velvet for the blind and painted for sick friends in the hospital to cheer them up. Sandy’s painting of an ice skating dad carrying his daughter on his hip while being viewed by children from a distant a hospital window was selected to appear on the Shriner’s Christmas card that was disseminated all over the world. In 1999, Sandy and her mom Kay and husband Roy (a plumber in Seminole) moved to Florida. Here, she met her art coach Mac “McVae” Perry (who teaches at Michael’s Arts and Crafts) and an instant bond was formed. Mac saw in Sandy enormous energy, a positive attitude toward learning, and many hidden talents. Over the following months, Sandy worked hard at her art and now paints beautiful cityscapes and landscapes that are indistinguishable from those of her award-winning coach. Her artworks abound in light and explosions of color, perfect perspective, and a masterful command of the “power of black.” Roy and Kay are very supportive of Sandy’s activities which besides painting, include: swimming in her pool, biking the trail on a special-built hand crank bike, sailing, playing competition pool (she often beats the guys), and singing Karaoke. Sandy’s artworks can be viewed at   Wachovia Bank on Duhme Road at the Madeira Beach Causeway in Seminole.


I creat original Acrylic paintings and custom art work to match your home. Having a custom painting to match your decor really finishes the room.  Sandra