Category: Redwood Trees

Family Photos

All of our outdoor destinations are always filled with so many adventures and memories shared. Needless to say, I take hundreds of photos for one outing. Catching everyone looking at the camera with the proper joy in their eyes for the moment is a very special feat. I especially love when I catch the dog with his ears up, tongue out, or the whimsical light of mischief he has in his eyes. Then, let’s discuss having a toddler being captured with the enjoyment they have been expressing the entire trip, now there is a sweet treat for any photographer. So combine three humans, not including anyone we travel with, and our dog. I would say it is a chaotic symphony of pure magic to get wonderful photos. Hence, I love to sketch the feeling behind the photo in our little family book. I share glimpses of it here in the blog and I hope you enjoy it. For the picture below, my husband went through several transformations as I did not sketch this one out with a pencil first. He looked like Jesus for quite a while. Usually, his face is the least challenging for me to paint or draw because I stare at it so often.

The dog is the next one that I can get spot on, as long as I get his emotion from the outing…I am usually on a roll. The baby, well…I stare at her the most as I am lucky enough to be a stay at home parent now. Her portraits are becoming like second nature for any medium I choose, and yet, they look a bit different every time, which I find enjoyable. Now…there is me…and I am laughing as I write this. Why are self portraits so difficult? In college, whenever I had to draw myself for class…I looked so stern and scary due to staring in a mirror to accomplish the assignment. Lately, I am drawing myself from pictures and it is becoming more adaptable for my hand to create my face. As long as I get the feeling we all had, I feel like I accomplished something. I really need to redo my husband for another memory of the redwoods though…that is what my notes say anyway. Have any of you struggled with self portraits, or even taking selfies? Or, letting another person take pictures of you? I know a lot of people from my generation and previous ones who have had a difficult time with this. It is nice to see the next generation be so open to sharing their face and story with others. I am slowly getting more comfortable with this. Thank you all for reading and have a wonderful Wednesday!

-Karen Hilliard

Also, if you would like another way to show support, I have a few options. “Buy me a coffee” which is a way for anyone to contribute to the creative process behind the paintings. Fuel the artist so to speak. Here is the link if you are interested. The funds go to supplies and gas to get out to the trails. I truly appreciate the support and the fact that you are liking these blogs, as well as my art posts. I am working hard to bring you all fresh content! Here is the link to my Instagram where I try to post daily. You can also find me on Facebook at my art page Karen Hilliard Art.

If you would like to, please leave your Social Media handle on the “Buy me a Coffee” page so I can thank you in my Instagram/Facebook Stories! 🙂

Thank you again for your support!

Tags New Blog

“Connected by Love”

The Second Painting I created to show the heart shape of the canopy was also painted to express connection. I show this with the special feature of puzzle pieces located in the bottom left corner. My brother and his wife had their first date while putting a puzzle together. They laughed and talked over building something new for both of them. In those tiny moments…the subtle glances of looking up at one another…the sweet smiles of something young and fresh…they began. While working on this painting, I thought about their deep love for one another and their family. My mind drifted to memories of walking through the Redwood Forests with them and their children. They have taken us to the Redwoods everytime we visit. We have frequently seen Armstrong Woods and Grove of the Old Tress. This painting is a celebration of love and I wanted it to be personalized for anyone who would like their names written in the pieces. A forever reminder that we are all one piece of someone’s puzzle of life and love! I used their names as an example and to honor them both on my website. They are lovely people who inspire me. Here is the poem I wrote about the painting:

CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL PAINTING!

Our hearts beat as one and it whispers to the wind. What tales it could tell yet seems to hide in the shadows of day. Light sneaks through the cracks and holes surrounding it. Our heart pumps blood softly and beats slowly as if not to stir. The wholeness of this heart, in this place, in this time, with all these emotions swimming with memories…seeping through the dark places to find light. The heart of the forest shall not be bound, yet be free to blow in the wind spreading love and light. So everyone in their darkest of places may be able to see, feel, dream, and be exactly who they are in the moment. Sitting beneath this heart of ours on the forest floor, looking up at the canopy we created, feeling connected, and forever protected.

I hope you feel loved and cherished. Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for reading!

-Karen Hilliard

CLICK HERE FOR A PERSONALIZED PRINT

If you would like to, please leave your Social Media handle on the “Buy me a Coffee” page so I can thank you in my Instagram/Facebook Stories! 🙂

Thank you again for all of your support!

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting

“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.

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

If you would like to, please leave your Social Media handle on the “Buy me a Coffee” page so I can thank you in my Instagram/Facebook Stories! 🙂

Thank you again for all of your support!

Tags New Blog, redwood trees, tree canopy, watercolor painting

These Trees Are Tall!

So many smells surround me and the sounds of this forest are unique. It is wet and damp here in certain places. The ground beneath my paws is soft and mud is bouncing back up on my stomach. My muscles feel rejuvenated and strong. The air in my lungs is crisp and fresh, unlike the dust of the desert I call home. The trees…the glorious trees…where do I begin to leave my mark? Everyone needs to know I was here. My humans are keeping me close on this infernal leash, yet I know it is for my safety, as well as there’s. Apparently there is a plant here called poison oak and even if I get the oil in my fur, they can catch it by petting me. It is okay, the hold on me is loose so I still feel grateful to explore. There are so many puddles to drink water from and the rain feels nice on my fur.

Karen Hilliard Art | Blog | Redwoods | These Trees Are Tall

My eyes are always watching this baby by my side and my ears are perked up to hear for miles in order to keep her safe. She sure does love to splash in puddles. The tiny human gives me treats, throws my ball…not far…but she throws it and gets excited, so I must keep her near me at all times. The joy of this creature is interesting and I find that my heart feels warm when she is around. The forest is welcoming and the whole family seems to really enjoy it. I wonder if they are going to leave their mark? My mom is taking pictures, so many pictures. She is an artist and wants to paint…EVERYTHING! I am writing this blog to tell you all that she painted some of these trees and we are all super excited. She is releasing them tomorrow with prints as well. She is offering a 10% OFF COUPON in her Newsletter, so make sure to sign up for that. I think she did a great job with the mood, since that is what I can see clearly in her work. I hope you all get a chance to get outside with people you love this weekend. I am looking forward to my humans taking me somewhere awesome! Thank you for reading!!

-Spector

Karen Hilliard Art | Redwoods | California | Shining Light | Watercolor and Ink — SOLD

Redwoods Spreading Light | Karen Hilliard Art — SOLD

Tags california coast, New Blog, Redwoods

Trials and Tribulations

I have been through many trials and tribulations throughout my life and I am a huge fan of the trials. Focusing on the trying aspect of many ventures has helped me through any type of discomfort. If I am writing about art, since this is an art post, I would focus on the many attempts for each painting, drawing, sketch, etc. There is such a joy in the build up of what an art project will eventually turn into. Most of the time, I love to just start with a dot or a line and see where it will take me. There are many mess ups, mistakes, or as Bob Ross put it, “Happy Little Accidents.” Life boils down to how we look at things and what perspective we are seeing each moment with. The movie, “The Choice,” adapted from the book by Nicholas Sparks, explains this in a lovely way. Life comes down to choices. The mom in Bridgerton spoke to her daughter about love being a choice, which I find to be a wonderful description of life and love. We choose how we perceive everything that comes our way. How long to give it space in our thoughts, bodies, etc. A hard concept to wrap the mind around most of the time, but an amazing concept of confidence non the less. Sometimes working through things daily, hourly, minute by minute, can become a necessity. So…back to how this relates to art.

Karen Hilliard Art | Redwoods - Lighting the Way | Watercolor and Ink — **SOLD**

My mind can get caught up in details and lost in them at the same time. In the past, if something did not look just right, it weighed on my thought process. Now, I don’t really have the time for this circle or merry-go-round so to speak. With such a limited amount of time, I have to focus on what I want to accomplish minute by minute. The most important part of my day is now a tiny human and I do not have the luxury of getting lost in certain mindsets. I am grateful everyday for the new perspective of “slow down, enjoy it!” Each painting has now become more free and has a bit of air to them. Now, I let the paint tell me where it wants to go…even on a portrait which could be quite scary or nerve-wracking. A whole new thought process of choice. Choosing to let go and find comfort in the uncomfortable. I love my tight style of detail oriented pieces as well as my more recent loose ink and watercolor paintings I have been creating. They are still highly detailed as well, just a bit more play with water. Smaller works are more suitable for the time I have allotted presently. While I long to work on larger pieces, I am grateful for any moment at my art table. I had no idea where I was going with this post when I started to write. Trying to keep up with the consistency of my blog and social media is a whole different story for another time. As for now, I enjoy the trials of everyday life and look forward to lessons I can learn. Thank you for reading and have a wonderful Wednesday!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting

“Redwoods – Spreading Light”

Painting a series on Redwood trees has humbled me in so many ways. I posed the question “How many have walked these paths beneath the trees?” in my previous blog “Redwoods-Stand United.” While thinking about how the trees in the forest have lived for hundreds to thousands of years and how humans, well, do not, I have an overwhelming feeling of reverence anytime I walk among them. Hopefully these Tiny Paintings will bring hope, light, and wonder when you look upon them. Sparking conversation is my goal as an artist. People often see things in my tiny details that I did not notice until they share their perspective with me. I would love to know what you see in my paintings in the comments below! Or, how my work makes you feel when you view it. Do you feel amazement when you walk through a forest and beneath the trees? Do you feel connected or at peace? What are your thoughts? I am curious. This series is meant to connect us and my hope for this painting is that it spreads light.

“Redwoods-Spreading Light,” incorporates my love of the Redwood forests and the beauty all around us. This forest scene was created by building up many layers. The light through the trees shines bright and makes me feel as if it is lighting the way for those who walk in the woods. Also, those who feel any darkness. This painting is meant to shed light on any gloomy or lonely situation in anyone’s life. The sun is a beacon of hope, guiding the way. Fun fact, I wanted to title it guiding light yet when researching I found that it was the title of a soap opera that aired for 57 years here in America. It ran from 1952 to 2009. Isn’t this interesting? Then, after a lovely conversation with my mother, she titled this piece. My wish for this painting is that it brings you peace and a little bit of love into your home. Thank you for reading and may your Tuesday be terrific!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting

“Redwoods – Stand United”

Shapes appear in the shadows as I walk the cool paths through the forest. Small tree stumps are blanketed by moss and decomposing needles. Large tall trees tower over the stumps protecting them from wind and rain. Branches twist and turn sculpted by the elements throughout time. How many have walked these paths beneath the trees? What stories would these trees tell if given the chance? I was talking with a fellow artist friend from Roma, Italy about this very idea after she read one of my previous blogs on the Redwoods. Her name is Celia Blanco and here is the link to her website if you would like to view some amazing watercolors! She is also a lovely lady. This one friendly chat of inspirational thoughts solidifies we are all connected. Worlds away and the internet brought us together like two trees in a forest. This is what my painting series is all about. Togetherness. Here is the third painting in the series, “Redwoods-Stand United.”

This painting incorporates my love of the Redwood forests and the beauty all around us. The forest scene adds colors from real life as well as my imagination while beneath the canopy. It is titled to show how even though we are all shaped differently, we can stand united and grow into something beautiful. I was recently speaking with a friend about how as teachers, we protect children from everything, especially bullying. I write this because it is a good reminder as adults. How are our actions or words representing what we want to teach or show children growing up in this world? How can we “Stand United,” to show strength and love? As adults we have a huge responsibility like those tall trees in the forest to protect the life beneath them. Also keeping in mind the forest floor protects the tall trees as well. All of us together. We are all made different and this is such a beautiful thing. Even though trees look similar, they are all unique, yet they help one another survive. I hope these thoughts leave you with hope. Have a Terrific Tuesday and thank you for reading!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting

“Redwoods-Stand Strong”

The trees of Old Grove stand strong in the misty morning on the coast of California. They breathe in the fresh morning air and emit lovely oxygen for almost all living things to survive. Fascinating! Trees also work together to survive and help each other out in times of need. They are known to communicate through their root systems. Intriguing! Keeping all of this in mind as I walked through the forest, any forest really, I am continuously amazed. I wanted to create a series of work showing the strength of these trees and the symbiotic positive relationships they create. There is also parasitic relationship and decomposition, however, this series focuses on the strong bonds within the forest.

“Redwoods-Stand Strong” shows the strength of the bark on a redwood tree. This specific tree is also surrounded by friends whose roots are connected or intertwined with its own root system. They feed each other nutrients to help one another to survive and this painting represents the communication between trees. Reminding each other to “Stand Strong” and that they are supported. To hold on and never give up hope. This series is about resilience and so much more! I will be writing about one of the other two pieces I released in the series in the next blog. Over the weekend I hope to write a review on our favorite tea place focusing on specific blends they carry. A warm cup of tea is a lovely treat while walking in a forest! Just make sure what is packed in is also packed out. Thank you all for reading and have a wonderful Wednesday!

-Karen Hilliard

Art Inspiration to Art Show

Walking among the redwoods in California last winter was one of the best experiences of my life. I often travel to this state and the redwoods are a must on any adventure in Northern California. Beneath the canopy, I felt the cool air brush my cheek and the midst fill my lungs. I began to close my eyes and breathe just taking it all in. Home. That is where I was. Home. The body of work inspired by this trip is so dear to me. In every brush stroke I can feel the pine needles and smell the forest. The way the decaying needles are becoming compost for the rising trees above and their seedlings below. Home. That is where these trees and ferns reside. Grove of Old Trees is a park protected by Sonoma County land conservancy near the town of Occidental. Protection. Idea. Spark! Pondering… walking with my sketchbook and pen further into the grove where I come across the stump. There it is, holding strong with old and new life intertwined. “Resolute Protector,” my painting.

Resolute Protector | Karen Hilliard Art | Original Watercolor | Redwoods | Watercolor Painting

I did not know at the time what the title would be, however, looking back at my thought process there it was, all along. From the start I wanted to name this painting “Aquatic” since it looked like it may have been forming into an octopus. Then, towards the end, I remembered the journey and the thoughts while walking in the forest. How the trees were protected by the people and also how they protected themselves. This word had to make its way into my title somehow and it did. I finished this painting in March and could have entered it in many shows yet I was very hesitant to share it publicly. Gathering up the courage, I decided to enter it into the Fall show for the Nevada Watercolor Society where I am a Signature Member. Still, this being said, I was nervous about my style. I went for it and “Resolute Protector” made its debut on September 5th of this year 2024 and will be up until November 23rd. Pleased would be a word used as an understatement of how I feel about this painting hanging in the show. Honored is more fitting.

If you would like more information about the show, please contact me. Until then, thank you for reading and have a terrific Tuesday!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting

Fall Watercolor Show

I have posted a blog about this painting before and now it has been accepted into the Nevada Watercolor Society Fall Show! I feel truly blessed to have had this painting be chosen to hang alongside wonderful works of art by various artists nationwide. The show will run for two months and ”Resolute Protector” will be on display for the duration. Below is my previous blog explaining the creation of this painting and how much it means to me.

Somewhere in the midst off the California coast, a beautiful tree stump sits covered in moss. I became fascinated with this subject while walking around the woods with my family. After many photographs were taken, I came home and started to see different images in the textures of the tree. This title, along with others, popped into my mind as I painted this watercolor. The vision of a forest protector came to me. One in which is resolute in their purpose to protect the trees. Sitting socially among their friends, quiet, unseen almost, and ready to rumble at the first sign of trouble. This painting is a reminder that we are all connected. It is so lovely when I see photographs of human fingerprints and tree rings side by side. Also, branches and our bronchial patterns inside our lungs. Every time I venture into the forest I feel as if I am entering a different world, yet am reminded we are all of this Earth.

“Resolute Protector” holds many emotions for me and I tried to express them in every detail of this piece. I love the subject and how tree sheddings were collected, then protected by the mighty stump. The beautiful moss surrounding the pine needles gave the dried out old needles a feeling of rebirth into something new. Decomposition at its finest! I also found a lovely little nut or seed, and it turned into an eye of the protector. What do you see when you stare into this painting? Could you look at it forever and still be amazed?

Thank you for reading and have a wonderful weekend!

-Karen Hilliard