Lake Mead Recreation Area – Karen Hilliard Art

My family and I were fortunate enough to get a break in the summer heat this weekend and make it out to the trails. We ventured to a favorite inside Lake Mead Recreation Area. The temperatures stayed below 90 for us both Saturday and Sunday. Our dog and daughter had the best time playing and exploring. I was in JoAnn Fabrics the other day and found these amazing sensory kits for kids that included sand along with textile objects. The excitement grew when we found patches of sand out in nature and our baby played with found objects such as rocks and twigs. She was fascinated with how the sand felt between her fingertips and loved watching it move around on a huge stone slab we all sat on. The dog was just happy to find some shade and hang out with us. I love being able to share the natural world with my family and have their creativity shine when we are outside together.

Another fun experience together was how far we actually traveled on the trail. The new backpack has been wonderful but the real excitement is all walking hand in hand. People always told me hiking with a baby would be much slower, and although I agree with this, it is very important to state how much joy comes from that slowness. She reminds us of the joy of childhood and how we never had to think about the big adult responsibilities. When we are outside, we all enjoy each other and take time to appreciate everything around us. My goal on the next couple of hikes is to quickly sketch a few inspiring subjects I find out there and then paint them upon returning home. Life sure is different now. Especially finding time to paint. I love the challenges and am blessed with new inspiration daily. Have a Marvelous Monday and thank you for reading!

-Karen Hilliard

Red Sandstone is illuminated in the summer heat and shines forth a vibrant orange color. I love walking around the vast desert and viewing so many marvels around me. Today I went for a short hike and saw two lovely ravens perched in the shade of a beautiful sandstone rock wall. The temperature this morning was intense and started climbing above 100 degrees by the time I left the trail. This is my reminder to anyone hiking in the desert to always be prepared. Sunhats, sunglasses, WATER, WATER, and more WATER!!! Always bring water for yourself and anyone else who may need some, for example, your four legged furry friend. Also, a little extra water for your paint set if you are doing any field sketching or watercolor explorations on the trail. Personally, I focused on doing a quick sketch upon returning home so we could get out of the sun as soon as possible.

While hiking during the summer, I also like to pick trails that have some shade just so there is a bit of relief. I am always mindful of the time of day as well since 8am starts to climb to the hundreds as soon as the sun is high in the sky. Today was a late start in the day for my family and I so we were only out for a very short time. The sketch I am choosing to share was done very quickly just for this blog. I chose to add in “Portrait of a Manatee” as well so you can get an idea of the beautiful colors we saw today. Come to think of it, the hues were a bit more orange like “Woman of the Rock” so I will add that painting as well. If anyone is interested in the originals, I still have the original of “Portrait of a Manatee,” however “Woman of the Rock” has been sold. There are Limited Edition Prints of “Woman of the Rock” and open edition prints of the manatee painting. If you have any questions, please CONTACT me. Thank you for reading and have a marvelous Monday!

-Karen Hilliard