Heart of the Forest

Residing in Occidental, California there is a grove of old trees. They stand proud and tall, protecting one another from the elements. All the while, they are being protected by stewards of this Earth, humans. Thank you to the people who care for this special place and allow the public access to it. My family and I travel there annually in the month of December when the cool breeze blows. The coastal air is usually cool in this grove, however, the winter months make it extra special. We were fortunate enough to have a bit of sprinkles and splash in puddles. Constantly we kept watch on the tree limbs as rain did loosen some, so be careful. We also watched out for poison oak because there are some growing along the trail edges. This is mentioned at the start of the loop in case you need more information. All of the safety measures aside, we walk around with pure wonder every time we are fortunate enough to venture there. Below is my new painting, “Heart of the Forest,” and yes, you can stand under the actual tree canopy where the heart is formed. This is a truly remarkable experience.

The original painting is in Watercolor on Cold Pressed Paper. It is painted edge to edge on a sheet measuring 15” x 20” and is one of my brightest yet. I absolutely love this piece and decided to make prints as well. Here is the description for the moment in time when this painting was created in my mind…

My sister in law took us to a place. This place stood in a moment in time. Tall, full, and welcoming. The winds were cool and the skies opened up with rain. The midst rolled in around us like a blanket of dewdrops caressing our fingertips. We splashed in puddles and ran around through undergrowth. Then, in a magical moment, we looked up and saw the heart of the forest.

Heart of the Forest • Watercolor Painting Print • Karen Hilliard Art • Love • Heart Shape • Redwoods
AVAILABLE CLICK HERE!

If any of you are interested in the Original, here is the LINK. If you would like a print, here is the LINK. Thank you all for reading and if you have the chance, I hope you can go see this remarkable heart shape while looking up to the sky above. Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

-Karen Hilliard

These Precious Moments

Bountiful rejuvenation happens in the desert after moderate levels of rainfall. The luscious green plants spring up all throughout the land. Some may say, there is nothing as far as the eye can see, but I see everything! The ankle breaking cholla cactus that drops its seeds everywhere are quite interesting. The dog has to learn to avoid such plants. Some plants are friendly to the touch and tickle our palms as we walk by. Our daughter loves reaching out and feeling trees or bushes so I am constantly on the lookout for thorns or unfriendly protective plants while hiking in the desert. This plant was lovely and she really enjoyed the texture. It had yellow and green leaves and was set inside a crevice of sandstone. Plants amaze me how they can grow in cracks. They are so resilient.

I have been working on this small sketchbook of our hikes and backpacking trips for her memories. Hopefully, as she ages, she can look back and remember some of our wonderful moments outside. So much happens out there. This sketch is from hiking at Red Springs in Calico Basin. The parking lot is the turn off right before the loop of Red Rock Canyon and it is free to hike Red Springs. A natural spring! There is also sport and trad climbing right near the parking lot. The boulder field is up a ways and past the houses. It is a great out and back day hike and wonderful for children. They get to run around, climb, and explore what looks like another planet. I hope you all get a chance to go and if you need any more information, I linked it here! May your Monday night be magical and thank you for reading!

-Karen Hilliard

Play Time

Traveling from California forests to Nevada deserts was a huge climate change for our little one. Not only were there vast topography changes but also stimulation and shifts due to weather differences. In California we had the cold, wet, damp, and dewy mornings combined with rain. This led to luscious forest growth and green all around us under the redwoods. In the desert we shared moments of sand running through our fingers and staying in the crevices of the lines in our hands. Both climates were cool, however, California had a bit more of a chill due to the coastal midst. Hiking in the desert is also magical how quickly the temperature can drop once the sun sets behind the mountains. Both states shared a winter chill that our daughter and I enjoyed. We both love wearing hats so it was nice to be able to share fun memories with our knitted wear. 

Today we hiked the beautiful Red Rock Canyon here in Nevada. This place used to feel like our backyard as we were a bit closer and now it is a journey. Luckily, it makes the hiking there all the more wondrous and enjoyable. Sharing these moments with a toddler is a completely different experience than how my husband and I used to run 4 to 6 miles in a short amount of time. Now, the time is still the same, yet the distance may not even equate to a mile. Immediately out of the backpack, her hands glide into the sediments below her feet and around her being. The smile on her face illuminates everything and everyone on the trail. I love how when people see a baby they immediately smile and wave, or say hello. At least, out in nature this has been a welcoming experience. While greeting every human and dog on the trail, we were also fascinated by animal poop, wild plants, and above everything…rocks. More will be shared this week in future blogs so stay tuned and stay safe out there! Thank you for reading and I hope you all had a marvelous Monday.

-Karen Hilliard

Winter Solstice

The shortest of days and longest of nights is upon us! Winter Solstice has come and with it the first day of winter. A time to celebrate the return of the sun and the welcoming of warmth returning. My family and I celebrated this magical day with a hike, a meal, and reflection on everything important to us. We dried oranges to decorate our home while giggling and enjoying each other’s company. Our first attempt at a sugary delicious Yule Log was a success and the fire was lit in our fireplace. This is a time of year to remember those who are important and reach out to loved ones with open arms. We are fortunate to have many wonderful people in our lives and each one fills us with gratitude for their existence. The wonderful experiences I have with those around me really sparks the fire of my artistic journey. Today was about appreciation for loved ones and reminders were all around.

The hike was lovely with the sun shining overhead. The dog had a blast and was in full protection mode for our little one. Even though the parents were both there to watch out for her, he only left her side to fetch a stick. Keeping a watchful eye at all times, the stick was quickly dropped the second she even stumbled. He is an amazing dog and we are blessed to have him. Our daughter loved feeling the sediments between and beneath her fingers. Climbing up and down sand drifts as well as rocky paths were her favorite on this day. My husband and I just enjoyed the ambiance around us and carried it with us back to our homestead where we created some magic. Twinkle lights, orange slices, crafts, food, and more, illuminated our day with light. This solstice has been a wonderful start to an exciting new journey. I love the idea of rebirth associated with the return of the sun. Did any of you celebrate? If so, what did you do? Also, I made candied oranges which have a nice association with St. Nicholas and the gold coins he gave away, along with chocolate. Gift giving this time of year is by far my favorite. Thank you for reading and I hope you had a serene Saturday!!

-Karen Hilliard

“Juliet’s Fall”

Here they are! The new Tiny Painting Series, “Juliet’s Fall.” I wrote about these little color wonders in my previous blogs “Fall Season,” and in “Chestnuts” I gave a glimpse of one of the other paintings with Fall foliage. The colors of this series brought such joy to my studio and warmth to my home. I wrote in my Newsletter about how I envisioned knitting sweaters, hand warmers, and scarves while possibly sipping tea or coffee. Going from the “Pumpkins 2024 Series” to “Juliet’s Fall” was a wonderful transition from October to November for me. These new paintings focusing mainly on leaves and season changes reminded me of our last days at the Pumpkin Patch at Gilcrease Orchard. Watching the vines and leaves descend due to people choosing their pumpkins and also because of heat exhaustion, was an interesting change to experience from the year before. The pumpkin Patch was much cooler last year than this one and we could really see the difference in pumpkins this year from the year prior. They have been ripening sooner than expected and many meals have been made already! The Pumpkin paintings have filled my home with new colors thank the year before and inspired those deep orange hues for the new Fall pieces as well.

I released the paintings in my Newsletter as well along with the New larger painting I have been working on, still a work in progress. You can find out more about that painting by signing up for my Newsletter…just an email from me to you every month with new artwork, and a friendly hello! In this blog, I am diving a bit deeper into the inspiration for these smaller works. Juliet, the photographer, is a wonderful person who fills the world with color and light. She is also an amazing mother with fantastic children who bring light to this world as well. Juliet is honest, hard working, brilliant, and has a warm glow about her. She can talk with anyone and treats everyone with respect. I wanted to honor her personality in these Tiny Paintings. It was a challenge to create smaller bits and pieces of this beautiful lady’s persona and hopefully you can feel her light shining through to all of you. I will be adding more paintings to this series, and they will all look different than the ones posted. Wishing you all a Fabulous Friday and thank you for reading!

-Karen Hilliard

Chestnuts

The title, “Chestnut Grove,” makes me think about a grove of chestnut trees in the middle of a beautiful field, sparkling and colorful in the fall. The leaves are moving in the wind and changing color, yellow with hints of brown creating a glitter of natural wonders. Along with chestnut trees, another that pops into my mind is a field of maple trees, oak trees, and birch, all changing color and losing their leaves this fall. Chestnut Grove Tea reminds me of being back in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, and seeing the beautiful trees along the roadside as we drive, changing colors along the Fall Color Map. These beautiful states attract visitors from miles away just to drive the picturesque trails through valleys of color. As I sit here in Nevada, sipping this marvelous black tea, I am dreaming about Wisconsin. My new Tiny Painting Series is titled, “Juliet’s Fall,” and it will be released on my website this Friday! These paintings are a series of colorful wonders representative of the photographs taken by our cousin, Juliet. She loves the season of Fall and sent me lovely foliage photos as painting references. When I think about this time of year and the chill forming in the air, I quietly sip my tea and appreciate the changing of the season.

Chestnut Grove,” black tea can be found at Sheffield Spice and Tea Company here in Henderson, Nevada. It is an adorable little shop filled with smells to awaken the senses any time one sets foot inside the doors. I chose a black tea of medium caffeine levels for this week’s blog and am combining it with my Monday blog about my new paintings. This glorious tea has kept me awake and the fires of inspiration have been burning as I smell the lovely chestnut aroma sifting through my studio. This tea contains ingredients such as Ceylon Black Tea with Natural Chestnut Flavor. The Antioxidant level is High and the description says to enjoy it in front of an open fire. Their words make me think about Frank Sinatra and my Grandfather singing, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…” as he would roast chestnuts for us in his kitchen. This tea brings me back to fond memories of my loving grandpa once again and I am so happy to have these pictures in my mind, ears, and heart as I paint some fall foliage. I hope this blog entices your senses and I linked the tea if you are not local and would like to purchase it from their website. My paintings will be available soon and if you would like them sooner, please contact me here! Thank you for reading and have a Marvelous Monday. 

-Karen Hilliard

Fall Season

Fall is a wonderful time of year. The weather starts to cool in the mornings and hopefully stays throughout the day. If you live in an area with changing seasons, then you can see some amazing variations of colors in the trees. Here in the desert we are lucky to have some oak trees which release their leaves and give a nice yellow hue before they blanket the ground and change to brown. My husband loves the smell of decomposing leaves and it reminds him of his childhood growing up in Wisconsin. His cousin recently sent me lovely photos of the changing leaves throughout the town where she lives and it has sparked my next series of Tiny Paintings. “Juliet’s Fall,” will be released in my Newsletter on November first in a little over a week. This series is about slowing down and taking time to appreciate everything around us. Nature is such a wonderful teacher in this retrospect as well as teaching us many other lessons to learn. 

All things in nature take time to grow and develop, then run their course of living their individual existence. This series is about the leaves and the changing of the seasons, also reminding us that as humans, we go through many transformations in life. These changes become chapters in our book of life and our novels expand as we evolve. Trees are fascinating and see so much life pass around, above, inside, through, and beneath them. What would they tell us if we could listen or understand? These small pieces are meant to bring light and color into this world through the cool seasons leading into winter. Fall is a remarkable season filled with warmth from fires lit in the hearth of homes, soup made on people’s stoves to sip with merriment, hot chocolates, teas, and coffees consumed by many. The food of Fall brings everyone together and reminds us to give thanks for everything we hold dear. I love the constant reminder that where I am today, right now in this moment, I wished for it to happen in the past. This colorful series I am about to release heightens all of my senses and brings awareness for everything that is important to me. A very grateful feeling. I hope this Fall is a magical time of year for you as well. You can sign up for my Newsletter on my website or click this link and you will be directed to it. Have a Wonderful Wednesday and thank you for reading!

-Karen Hilliard

Click Play to watch me Painting the New Series, “Juliet’s Fall.” Releasing Soon!!

Pumpkin Patch

Days at the pumpkin patch have been filled with happiness and wonder. Walking into Holvrease and getting greeted by the staff with such joy is a great experience and sets the mood for a fun filled day! Meandering along the path to the pumpkins and choosing a wheelbarrow to collect our treasures also brings a smile to our faces. From the moment we enter to the moment we leave the Patch is full of possibilities. I love watching our daughter run her fingers through the dirt, collect it, and watch it float in the air through her fingertips. Children truly are fascinating. These years of wonder are filled with whimsy and a sparkling personality is being formed.

The pumpkin series holds so many meanings for me. Each one wrapped in my memories of where we picked the pumpkin, the weather during the day as it has been vastly different, and the people we were with upon choosing the pumpkin. We think of what good we will create when I finish a painting and the pumpkin is ready to carve. We have made soup, gnocchi, bread, and scones so far. Last year we attempted chocolate chip pumpkin cookies which came out nice but way different than the recipe. So each pumpkin in the “Pumpkins 2024 Series” holds a special place in my mind. Every painting I create does actually since most are from nature and an experience in my life. The memories of going to the Pumpkin Patch with sisters, nieces, friends, cousins, and our loved ones will live in these paintings for all time. I hope these pumpkins bring you joy and a bit of whimsy. What a wonderful world we live in. Thank you for reading and have a marvelous Monday!

-Karen Hilliard

The Art of Whimsy

Whimsical is defined as playful or amusing, also as appealing. This pumpkin series is meant to bring a jovial jive so they dance through the minds of each viewer and take each person to a land of wonderment. The land of awe where anything is possible and the world is full of all the colors on the spectrum. There is a play of light and dark throughout this series including various undertones with different techniques. Water play and detailed brushwork went hand in hand with each piece and the ink came at the beginning, middle, and end. Every time I look upon these pumpkins, I am transported back in time to happy memories of holidays with my family and the warmth this time of year brings. These colorful wonders also ground me into the present moments I am having with my little family at the Pumpkin Patch and watching our daughter explore the natural world. The paintings also give me hope for our future and dreams we have coming into fruition. Consistently putting in the time, hard work, and dedication needed for these goals to become a reality. This series is definitely a fun project for me.

Every year the pumpkins we choose change yet we always try to find the majority for eating. We cook soup, scones, breads, etc. If you have a recipe or a link to one, please share it in the comments below. The previous blog Pumpkin Soup was supposed to be about soup, yet, as writing is a form of art, it took two directions. That blog became one of hope for others and an outstretched hand. This blog comes back to the original sentiment of the series and the loveliness I am trying to spread in the world, one painting at a time. Whimsy means fanciful, which is in one’s imagination, and behavior for which we act. These paintings are a glimpse inside my mind which is a spider web of wondrous thoughts, hopes, and dreams. Each brush stroke, dot of the paintbrush, or pen is a thought from me to you. I see many different images in the lines of my creations and usually am smiling the whole time while working on these fun little pumpkins. I occasionally have a determined or concentrated look on my face and then a chuckle comes from my mouth while the water flows its own way again. These little pieces are meant to bring magic and humor into your life and to be viewed with whimsy. I love how each painting is unique and not one is painted the same!

Wishing you all a Wonderful Weekend! Thank you for reading.

-Karen Hilliard

Karen Hilliard Art | Pumpkins 2024 Number 8
SOLD!

Pumpkin Soup

Italian Seasoning with Thyme and Rosemary filled the air around my house while I walked our dog. I drifted back to childhood memories of my Grandfather and all of his stories blanketed me under the stars. As we walked the third lap and it was nearing 9pm, I smiled with the mere thought that the smell was coming from my home. My husband carved one of the Gilcrease Pumpkins tonight and I boiled the flesh of the squash. The red pumpkin ended up being really soft and when blended into a purée, it turned more into a soup, so I decided to make soup. While it simmered I was thinking about the sales of the recent “Pumpkins 2024 Series Number 2” and “Number 8,” and feeling overjoyed at this time of year. A time for family, friends, and loved ones to come together and share hearth and home. I also thought of those who feel alone at this time of year, and hoped if they saw these colorful paintings that the artwork may bring a smile to their faces. A warm hug, an outstretched hand possibly, to know they are not alone. I hope this series brings whimsy and color into people’s homes and hearts.

Here are a few more of these pumpkins to view. October is becoming one of my favorite months and the Fall season is as well. Thanksgiving truly was not really a great time of year for me until I met my husband and his joy of cooking inspired my own. Even around many people, I still felt alone and misunderstood at times. Growing up as an artist can create a lot of different emotions at once, and I felt all over the place with many thoughts. Usually what I wanted to create next, yet did not know how to express these ideas. My recent series on the Redwoods touch on Togetherness especially for this time of year. I was fortunate to keep my wonderment from childhood alive and well as I grew and evolved. This “Pumpkins 2024 Series” reaches out with color and liveliness. These pumpkins are meant to spread jovial energy and happiness this time of year. I hope this post finds you well and if you feel lost, please reach out to someone, you are not alone. If you know someone who feels lonely this time of year, please reach out to them as well. Every time my Grandpa called me on the phone I would say, thanks for calling. He always replied, “Thank you for picking up. If you didn’t there would be no conversation.” Thank you for reading and have a wonderful Wednesday!

-Karen Hilliard

“A true selfless act always sparks another.”

~Klaus