During this period he maintained a studio in San Francisco's Donahoe-Kelly Bank Bldg and exhibited locally.  In 1874 he and Hiram Bloomer held a joint sale of their paintings to finance European studies.  He left in that year and spent about two years studying in France.

His obituary states that he was a field artist for Scribner's publications and was with Major Reno's troops at the time of the Custer massacre in 1876. 

After his studies in France, he returned to San Francisco with a distinctly different style. Paintings done after that time show the influence of the Barbizon School and were signed "Holdredge."

His works were in great demand during his lifetime, received rave reviews by the local press, and were often considered superior to those done by William Keith.  Holdredge traveled extensively throughout the Northwest, Southwest, the Rockies and western Canada, often living for long periods of time among the various Indian tribes.

Due to his malnutrition and alcoholism, his paintings done during the latter part of his life were not of good quality.  Like his friend Jules Tavernier, he made considerable money as an artist but did not manage his money well.  He died penniless at the Alameda County (CA) Infirmary in April 1899 and was buried at public expense.

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