Author: Karen Hilliard Art

Finding Treasures

A sunny day compared to an overcast one changes the colors my eye perceives. Photographs taken under a grey sky illuminates the light areas by sharpening the dark shadows on subjects. Rocks, trees, and people come to life with so much depth and detail. This is my favorite time to take pictures and find treasures. The cool breeze that accompanies a “gloomy” day is also a favorite of mine. I think the word gloom is how others would describe these days. Most people like to cuddle up under blankets and sip tea or coffee while reading a good book. Watching movies with a fire going is also nice. I am one to enjoy all of these things as well, especially after going outside. There is something about nature. It calls me to witness her in all her glory on any day…sunny or gloomy. I abide by the wishes of Mother Earth along with the voice inside my head saying “go outside!” Do any of you have an internal monologue or a hidden whisper motivating you?

Karen Hilliard Art Blog | Red Rock Canyon | Painting for Charity

The whisper in my mind also sounds like the whisper in the wind or through the trees as the leaves rustle about. Everything flows outside and works off the other. Rocks are carved by wind, rain, any flowing water source. Trees are sculpted as the grow by the same circumstances. I am fascinated by trees, shrubs, and bushes that grow out of tiny cracks with the most limited water source imaginable. This is one of the treasures I love finding while outside. Another is a raven or a family of ravens dancing in the wind. On really high wind days we find them caught in still motion in the wind pockets. We also love to hear the calls of birds and feel the texture of trees. The Juniper is a lovely treasure for us to find as well with their beautiful cones, otherwise known as berries. Our greatest find in the desert is any water source. We love flowing rivers in the once dry wash. Our dog gets the rare treat of drinking fresh mountain water or rainwater. We watch out for spadefoot toads, so as to not hinder their ecosystem, before we let our dog drink. What treasures have you found outside?

Thank you for reading and have a wonderful weekend!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting

Weekend Shenanigans

Wind, sleet, and a rainstorm! Do I have your attention? It sure had ours! We went out on a hike and stumbled upon beautiful trickling waters all the way to flowing rivers. On our return hike we were met with some interesting weather and yes, all weather is good weather. We braved the storm and ended at a restaurant, soaking wet head to toe, and all of us just sat enjoying warm drinks before lunch was served. The start of the hike was beautiful and yes…very windy. Not so windy that it would be unsafe being out on the trail, but windy enough to be unpleasant for others in the end. For us, however, we loved it and it was worth the lulls in weather patterns to be in the eye of the storm for most of the journey. We hiked through the desert and watched our dogs play, drink water in streams, bound around with immense joy, and get very wet. We watched the children jumping babbling brooks, finding walking sticks, and studying the nature around them. We laughed, had multiple conversations, and much exploration.

Hiking up the long arduous hill was invigorating. The kids were having the best time bouldering around the rocks and climbing to the top of things. We were very careful to keep them safe and once the rain started, the climbing stopped. To see nature through a different lens of children’s eyes is wonderfully remarkable. One of the best parts of Saturday’s adventure was seeing what the children would do next, what questions they would ask, and how their eyes lit up with amazement at EVERYTHING. Once the rain came, then the sleet, people may have thought I would mention all the complaining that happened. There was none! The kids and adults just followed each other in single file on the trail and protected one another during the wind blasts. Smiles all around and laughter with each unexpected experience. This goes down in my memories as one of my best days on planet Earth. Have a marvelous Monday and thank you for following along on my artistic journey!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, red rock canyon

Moments in Time

Every time I am out in the desert I feel worlds away from everything and everyone else. The topography continuously changes and causes my mind to wander into my imagination. So many thoughts come flooding in as if a flash flood or monsoon is happening inside my brain. Does this ever happen to you? I get so many thoughts at once and don’t have time to write or sketch them all down. I feel grateful every time I hike to have the opportunity for my life to be filled with wonder. Never expecting what may happen out in nature and always being pleasantly surprised is the best way for me to approach life. This is where I find my greatest inspiration, from the unknown. My favorite days outside are, what other people may describe as, the gloomy days. I love overcast and cool weather. Anytime the weather shifts to drizzle or gray moments, my mind shifts back to my childhood, growing up on the coast of California. This was such an amazing moment in time for me and anytime it rains I am transported into my imagination.

The gray days are perfect weather to enjoy a sip of coffee and break out my sketchbook. I have this wonderful little set of watercolors I found in Germany and it fits in my bag perfectly. When I arrived back in the USA I found the same set on Amazon. Here is the link if anyone is interested. These are my field watercolors, Winsor and Newton Cotman series. I also went to our local Desert Art Supplies and purchased another small blank set which I fill with specific colors and my Winsor and Newton Professional Watercolors. Between these two sets I find a happy place. Anytime I see the sky gets cloudy and I have a free moment, you can find me out in the desert, falling in love with the scenery all over again. I hope to bring this peace into your homes or the homes of your loved ones with my paintings. For now, have a terrific Thursday and I hope you have the chance to get outside!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, red rock canyon, watercolor painting

“Daisy Way – Meadow”

Somewhere in the heart of England, all the way across the pond from where I live, sits a little girl dreaming about a walk with her mum through a field of daisies. I was asked by a client to create a painting full of daisies and after I finished two commissions for them, I created three larger pieces with a similar composition. Their paintings were unique and part of my Tiny Painting collection. The larger works I chose to paint have a different feel and look about them. I just loved her story so much and wanted to spread the joy around to the world. While envisioning “Daisy Way – Meadow” I was picturing the painting hanging on someone’s wall and wishing to bring light into their home. Wondering how it would be matted and framed, then showcased and displayed. Where in the house would this painting fit and bring the most happiness? I wanted to show, also express, the feel of wonder and kindness. The sunlit corner at the top left has daisies floating off into the distance.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR

This one act of floating away enveloped my mind and took me on a whimsical journey of light. I thought about wind and how it just lifts up flowers and plants lightly, in kind ways, and carries them to a new destination. I wondered about where the daisies would land upon finding a new place to reside. The vision came to me when I thought about wishing on dandelions and watching my dreams float in different directions, actually spreading seeds for new wishes for some other passer by. I hope whoever buys a painting from this series feels they can make a wish and I really hope it comes true! If we all believe…anything can happen. Here is “Daisy Way – Meadow” and I wish it brings light into everyone’s life! A sunlit walk among the daisies with a light breeze in the air. Sun kissed faces on a dew drop morning. Wishing you all a peaceful Tuesday and hoping this painting finds a loving home. Thank you all for reading.

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, Original watercolor, watercolor painting

A Walk in the Desert

THIS TINY PAINTING IS NOW AVAILABLE – CLICK HERE!!

A beautiful hike in the middle of the desert, surrounded by mountains, sits humbled in Lake Mead Recreation Area. This trail is known by many tourists as the horse trail and by us as the what will we see today trail. Venturing on the gravel path we find many rock formations, native plants, sadly trash, and beautiful sunrises in the sky. Going further into the desert and off the beaten path to the dirt tails, we find another world of adventure. Sometimes it feels as if we could be in Mars. The solitude out in this trail is amazing and the dog loves exploring the vast opportunities of new trails. Some people use this trail for off reading as well so we are extremely careful where we go. Our dog is leashed anytime we see a horse and rider or a vehicle coming up the paths. We like this trail because we can see dust flying way off on the distance and it is our cue to leash the dog.

Other than the dust flying, and dog leashing, he runs free to explore. We bring the whip it stick and let the ball fly as he bounds around chasing his favorite thing in the world. We try to constantly stimulate his need to herd objects by using fetch as a placebo. While he runs around and gets tired, I spy subjects I want to paint and take quick photos. After the dog is ready to rest, I can then sit and take out my sketchbook to create the wonders of my mind out on paper. The days out in the desert are magical moments in time for me and have shaped my artwork into something I ised to dream about as a child. I hope you all enjoy walking in nature with us and diving into the mind of an artist. I see so many images while outside and hope you all see more in my work. I hope to share the joy of wonder and add happiness into your homes. Thank you for reading and have a marvelous Monday!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting

After the Rain

The desert comes alive after it rains and the topography changes drastically. Once subtle sand dunes take on different appearances and reform to look like rivers or streams. The flow of the land changes and pools of water form in rocks, washes, and imbed in cactus plants for storage to save them in arid days. Being out in the middle of the desert in a rainstorm can be scary and life threatening if it becomes a flash flood. A little sprinkle here and there while out hiking is, however, quite enjoyable and a nice break from the heat. My family and I love heading outside after a great rain to see the new canvas being presented for our eyes. Another sense we love to explore is our sense of smell. The freshness of the air and the aroma of certain plants come alive after it rains. My husband always says, “all weather is good weather,” and I wholeheartedly agree. I did write in a previous post about how hurricanes, blizzards, etc. are leather and dangerous…so all weather, even the scariest of them, can be beneficial to the environment. Not necessarily to humans in all cases. So I will stick with the rain for now.

Seeing the dewdrops and raindrops on flowers blooming from various plants is invigorating. Watching bees and pollinators getting their jobs done and enjoying the fresh nectar is amazing! Finding webs created by burrowing spiders is a real treat because they look like stardust from the milky way after a good rain. All the animals come out and find water sources and if we sit long enough, we can spy some rare finds. One of these being the tarantula hunting for their mate. Burros and Bighorn are also prominent after it rains. These are the most fun for us to spot off in the distance. It almost feels like the book “Where’s Waldo,” from when we were kids finding Waldo while sitting in the dentist’s waiting room. Where is the Burro? Also, if they have a baby it is even more exciting, if that were even possible to be more excited. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and enjoy some time outside! Thank you for reading.

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog

Desert Dogs

Watching my dogs enjoying themselves while bounding through the open desert is a wonderful experience. I was fortunate to have my first pal for almost fifteen years. He was the best trail dog I have met and helped me out of some pretty scary situations. This being said, he also got into some pretty sticky and questionable situations himself. He got a little too anxious around rushing water sources and I had to help him out a few times. The memories he and I shared are endless and replay in my mind on a daily basis. He was a red heeler, Australian Cattle Dog, Queensland, many names for the breed. High energy was his happy place during puppyhood and laying around the house during adulthood. His favorite all time place was being outside on a trail. This is where he always came alive with high spirits and a lot of dog smiles. I was always grateful if the path did not have a cow pie since he lived rolling in them until his white fur was brown. Yuck! When he passed, part of myself fell asleep for a while, then my husband and I decided it was time for a new friend to be added to our family.

Hiking with our dog in the winter snow.

The current beast is a blue heeler which is the same breed and way more calm in comparison. He also loves being outside in the trials and is a gem with our daughter. He is navigating his new role as her companion as well as ours and I long for the days when they will get to run side by side out in nature. Currently he loves chasing balls or just smelling everything outside. Both dogs were and are always leashed around people or animals, and respectful of the natural environment. Watching our dog now enjoy nature is also amazing. He loves running ahead a little bit, hiding, and running back when we call his name. We love how much he blends into the shadows and dark colors outside. Thank you all for reading and I hope you have a terrific Thursday!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog

Butterscotch

The feel of the Bristlecone trees sculpted by wind and rain is smooth and cool to the touch. One post did not seem like enough of a story about my love for the trees growing on Mt. Charleston. They are pure joy to my sense of vision and I cannot get enough of them. The hike up North Loop trail could be considered moderate to extreme depending on the weather the day of the hike. Climbing up this mountain in the snow is a bit treacherous and it is important to have the right gear and know the trail very well. Luckily we have an amazing dog who is an excellent trail guide! Also, we have hiked the switchback mountain pass many times. I absolutely love the views up there and this one plateau where we relax before going up the ultra steep parts. On our way up, we stop and smell as many Ponderosa Pines as possible.

Bristlecone Pine Series 1 #2 • Nature Watercolor Painting • Karen Hilliard Art — CLICK HERE FOR PRINTS AND ORIGINALS

These majestic trees smell of Butterscotch if you ever get the chance to take a whiff. I highly recommend it. A dear friend of ours taught us about this on my first hike with her, on this very trail. We later learned about how the color of the bark changes when it is struck by lightning and how orange it can get. These trees are tall and fascinating. They remind me of the redwoods in California or the giant Sequoias, however, not as tall. They are the closest tree I can get to feeling home out here in the desert. This is probably why I like this trail so much, because it feels like home. The smells up the path are out of this world and there is hardly anyone hiking on it when we go. Hoping this post inspires you all to get outside and adventure in your own home towns, cities, countries, etc. We have a beautiful world out there and it is just waiting to be seen. Thank you for reading and have a Happy Weekend! Oh, and another dear friend bought me my first coffee! I will tag her on Facebook. Truly thankful for all of you reading these blogs and following my art journey. Thank you for inspiring me daily!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting

A Special Day of Love

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!! I hope you are all surrounded by love. Whether this love is felt from loved ones, self-love, pet love, always remembering all love, any kind of love, is a blessing. I remember always being skeptical of this holiday and thinking it was a way to market for consumerism. Then, over the years and through my love for chocolate, I also softened into my creamy center. I do still love to celebrate this day every single day of the year. I find it deeply important to tell the people in my life I love them on a regular basis, often finding an uncomfortable level in others. I hope one day the world gets to a point of spreading love and it filling us all up with kindness. Until this happens, it is nice to see all acts of love and kindness as magical moments. Also, this is as good a time as any to announce that I am now a mom! As this new role blankets me in all it’s warmth and coziness; I find a new love of holiday spirit.

Seeing the world through a child’s eyes that are full of wonder is truly remarkable. I thought I knew love before. Love for my dog who passed away was intense and a bond I never had prior. Love for my family and unconditional ties. A niece being born on this day, giving me my first Valentine celebration years ago. Love for amazing friends who become family. Love for my husband who I waited a long time to meet, all the while knowing in my heart we would find each other one day. Love for our new puppy, now dog, who is spunky and playful. Currently, the motherly love. Well, there are no words to describe this one. Let’s simply say, my whole world has changed and gotten brighter, bigger, and just more! So on this day, I wish all of you love. Especially skeptical and cynical minds because I understand that place in time. Hope you enjoy this day and take time for yourself to know how special all of you are to even exist on this planet. St. Valentine sent letters of love so this is my letter to all of you. Everyone matters, everyone is special, and you are all loved. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog

Prickling Pears

While walking along the streets of Sedona, Arizona, my husband and I happened upon some lovely beavertail cactus. Sitting around the edges of each paddle were an incredible amount of prickling pear. These fruit are hard and hearty until they fall off fully soft and ripened. They range in color from green to red and last a purple or dark red hue when ready to be eaten. Several of these lovely fruits were laying on the ground along the sidewalk edge. We decided to pick some and took them back to our timeshare. This whole trip was wonderful because the timeshare was gifted to us by loved ones and the fruit was a gift as well. When cleaning the outside of a prickling pear, one needs to be very careful. They have tiny clear pins or needles all over their skin as a protective layer. This reminds me of my post last week including desert tortoises and wondering how powerful their mouths are to not only bite cactus paddles but eat the fruit as well. Simply, a fascinating creature. After we got all the spines off, Chris doing most of the work, that is, then we ate and enjoyed the delicious juiciness of the pears. They were a lot of hard work and worth every stab of the needles. I was still pulling clear pins out of him after we finished eating. It was intense, he kept saying, “here’s another one,” so be prepared!

Red Rock Canyon Series 1 #5|Karen Hilliard Art|Watercolor|Tiny Paintings|4x6

When we returned home to Las Vegas, we were fortunate to find some beavertail cactus paddles on our walk. Our neighbor was trimming his plant and we happened to find a paddle laying on the ground drying out. Chris carried it all the way home with his bare hand!! This cactus paddle had very sharp needles. We let it dry for weeks, maybe a month, then planted it. Today, we have a beautiful cactus plant that produces prickling pears every year. It also blooms the most beautiful yellow flowers and attracts pollinators every spring. We have also found beavertail cactus out in Red Rock Canyon but we leave them alone because they are for the animal’s survival. I have yet to see a desert tortoise in the wild but I am sure they are out there. We find huge chunks chewed off of cacti once in a while. We are happy with our pricking pear cactus and we were also given more paddles last year. Luckily, these have no spines, pins, or needles. We are still waiting for them to produce fruit! The paintings below are the happy bees pollinating out sunflowers. I still need to paint the Prickling Pears.

The Bees Knees | Karen Hilliard Art | Watercolor

Have a Marvelous Monday and thank you for reading!

-Karen Hilliard