Category: Watercolor Painting

Walking in Different Worlds

I walk in many worlds. One I visit often is the place I am surrounded by with the dry desert air and beautiful sunsets on the horizon. Another is my childhood memories calling me home and longing for the coastal scenes from California. As for my paintings, I think recently there has been a little back and forth amongst the desert scenery and the tall trees of my homeland. After working on the detailed piece “Resolute Protector,” from Grove of Old Trees in California, I needed to relax with some Tiny Paintings. The series took on a life of its own after I went to the Sunflower Fields with my family. I became fascinated with the flowers and the insects working hard at their daily tasks. One of the 4” x 4” paintings I did was of a bee whose wings were quite on the way out and I wondered how long their life would be. What have they been through, I thought? How many times were they out after sundown and could not get back to the hive? Did they have to wait for the dew to dry and is that why their wings looked so tattered or were they attacked by another insect like the green beetles flying about?

Orchard Bee Study Number 1 | Karen Hilliard Art | Watercolor — **CLICK EACH PAINTING TO SEE THEM ON MY WEBSITE!**

Orchard Beetle Study Number 1 | Karen Hilliard Art | Watercolor — **CLICK EACH PAINTING TO SEE THEM ON MY WEBSITE!**

My husband had other thoughts because some of the beetles were hanging out closely together. The males and females if you know what I mean. He had funny questions we discussed over the breakfast burritos after we walked the fields of Gilcrease Orchard. So the world I walk in currently is one of flowers, heat, rock formations, and some trees located on Mt. Charleston. I tell you all of this because my blogs may be a bit all over the place in the coming months. I will go back and forth from my new body of work on the Redwoods and my deep love for the desert as well. Mt. Charleston is home to Bristlecone, Ponderosa, and other pines as well as oak, and manzanita trees. To say that I am overstimulated would be about on point. My next Newsletter should have my new rock piece and Redwood pieces finished. We shall see. I feel like a very little busy bee these days…at least in my mind art wise. Now, to find the time between making food, cleaning the home, and hiking the trails, to actually sit down and paint! Watch for videos and blog posts. They are coming!

Thank you for reading and have a fantastic Friday!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting

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

Labor of Love

Happy Labor Day Everyone! Here is my labor of love. I want to thank everyone for supporting my art over the years. Every purchased painting helps me continue showing, driving to trails for blogging, and buying supplies needed for my paintings so I can pursue this art dream. It is not always easy or financially stable but worth every second of hard work and dedication. When you buy a painting, you are not only supporting my small business, you are also helping out my little family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I really appreciate you all and hope you have a wonderful day!

Here is a little Fall love for this wonderful September month. The paintings I chose for this blog and social media posts today contain sunflowers, fall leaves, and the undergrowth of a redwood forest in California. If you are interested in any of the paintings or more information about the art, you can click on each individual picture. Clicking will take you to my website so you can view and purchase the paintings. Each painting is an original 4” x 6” watercolor or a watercolor and ink. After recently visiting the sunflower fields at Gilcrease Orchard, I am really fascinated by sunflowers and pollinators again. One of my favorite paintings on this blog post is the sunflower just starting to open up. I hope you all had wonderful days today and please know, your work and what you do is appreciated. People see you and keep up the great work! Have a Marvelous Monday Evening and thank you for reading!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, red rock canyon, sunflower painting, watercolor painting

Rock Textures

Passing on the love of rock texture and stimulus to the next generation is a magical experience. Pumice, Sandstone, Limestone, Gipson…oh my! We even found some Silt out there and she got to feel it and watch it break between her fingers turning to tiny particles of sand. The wow expression of a child is something I will always marvel at and be humbled by. She was looking through my art portfolios the other day and came across the painting I did of Madeline Island in Lake Superior, Wisconsin. Yes, an entirely different climate from the desert life, yet a rock just the same. Fascination with rocks and textures of rocks must be in her genes. Our little Geologist shares this love with many children. There are so many books for kids along with textured play for brain activity and development. Nature is by far the best teacher and sparks intense imagination.

Here are various rock paintings I have created over the years. The newest one “Cohesive Contrast” with it’s deep hues and intricacies drives my mind in the direction of a lovely madness of color. I remember feeling the stones throughout the Boulder on this rock and look forward to taking her to Joe’s Valley one day. “My Mother’s Robin” is from a hike at Valley of Fire here in Nevada and is a place filled with wondrous Sandstone formations and huecos. “Rock Warrior” sits guarding a trail on the Flat Irons in Boulder, Colorado. He is very solemn and still but will wake just to attack if any nonsense comes his way. There are many more from various hiking and climbing trips on my website to peruse. If you have had a favorite trip you took, feel free to contact me and share! Especially if the spot is super special to you. Until then…have a terrific Thursday and thank you for reading!

-Karen Hilliard

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

Summer Heat

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

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting

“Interconnection” Blog

I have always been fascinated with recognizable patterns seen within tree stumps and the human fingerprint as well as photographs of our bronchial tubes compared alongside tree branches. Trees are the lungs of the world and provide us all with oxygen through photosynthesis while breaking down the carbon dioxide we breathe out. Our fingerprints identify us as individuals while tree rings show the age of the tree, and both can give a glimpse of our history. Keeping these ideas in mind while painting this piece, the title came to me due to the fact that Earth’s organisms are all connected in some beautiful way. “Interconnection,” is my new Original Watercolor painted on Arches Cold Pressed paper. The size of this painting is 9” x 12” painted edge to edge.

Interconnection • Watercolor Small Works • Karen Hilliard Art

For this piece I focused on the contrasts in the fallen tree we found and sketched it on location outside Red Rock State Park. The trees on this trail are large and beautiful. There are many Oak, Joshua, and Pinyon Pines throughout the various paths carved out by the elements and time. We love to hike these trails for the sand at our feet and it is exciting to watch the dog frolick among the foliage. Yet, we are always mindful of wildlife and watch our dog very closely around cholla cactus so he does not have any accidents. The trail we chose on that day was winding in the most beautiful ways and then we stumbled across the fallen trunk near a wash. I found the colors to be breathtaking!

“Interconnection” is NOW AVAILABLE!! There is only one! You can click here to be directed to the painting on my website, click the title, or the painting. I hope this artwork brings many years of wonder and conversation into your home! Thank you for reading this blog and have a Wonderful Wednesday.

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, red rock canyon, watercolor painting

Cohesive Contrast

Cohesive Contrast is inspired by the colors of Joe’s Valley, Utah. While out there bouldering I noticed the sun hitting the rocks and making the sandstone appear almost white. Deep in the shadows, underneath the rock face, creating caves and caverns, laid beautiful shades of purple, blue, and orange hints accentuating the sandstone. I wanted to show the cohesion of the texture of this rock. I was fascinated by how all the stones were held in place and how the bolder curled around itself. The contrast of this piece came as I added the colors. Trying to show the light where the sun was hitting the rock and its brightness, then comparing it to the dark shadows and shades underneath, brought the word contrast to mind. This small 6 x 6 has been nonstop, layering, adding depth, detailing, then repeating the whole process over and over. I hope you all see something in this painting, as I see many faces, especially when I turn the work.

I like this piece because it can be turned in all four directions and hung for your viewing pleasure. Each direction creates a totally different composition of the work and a new focal point. For my signature, I decided to show the angle of the original photograph where the white is on top and the shadows are on the bottom. As I turn the work, I do see a shift in vision, and my new focus becomes captivated by an interesting face in the contrast of colors between orange and white. What do you see in this painting? You can contact me via Instagram, Facebook, or my Contact page on my website to tell me what you like about this piece, or anything that interests you. It is now available on my website and it is the first 6 x 6 that I have painted so it is super special. I really enjoyed creating the subtle hues, and color variance of the white sandstone. Each tiny dash and dot created a new layer of wonder for me. This is an original only, One of a Kind. I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend and getting outside! Thank you for reading.

Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting

Mushing Through Denali

To say this was one of the best trips I have been on would be an understatement. Other than Peru with Chris, this may have been the best adventure yet! My cousins wanted to go dog mushing while in Alaska. I had no idea what was in store and I am always up for fun activities so I said let’s do it! While driving to our destination, we had to look out for Moose and make sure none were in the road. They are huge animals and can total a car. We arrived at the Earthsong Lodge early in the morning after driving quite a ways. The owner of the Dog Sled Expeditions was amazing and so was his staff. My cousin got paired with the owner, her husband with one of their friends, and I was paired with one of the staff members who now is a guide for Earthsong Lodge. Each person was wonderful and made the experience memorable. We got fitted in our warm clothes we were to wear for the duration of the trip. A giant onesie with a super warm hood, boots, and gloves. After the fitting I needed the restroom and got pointed to the outhouse. I was warned about my bottom possibly sticking to the seat so I was super careful. It did not happen, thank goodness. Using the butt flap on the clothes was quite fun though.

After airing out in the chilly morning, I stepped out of the outhouse and met up with my cousins by the dog houses. They were so small I had no idea how a dog could fit in them but they sure did. The dogs must have been super warm too with how tight their quarters were. These dogs had energy like I have never seen and I have an Australian Cattle Dog (They are nuts with boundless energy!) These dogs, the mushing dogs, wanted to go, go, go, immediately out of the gate. They were chained to their spots and were not let off until they were individually walked to the line they would be attached to. Each dog was jumping and barking with such excitement and joy. All they wanted to do was work and get the job done. It was a sight to see and very interesting to hear. This trip heightened all my senses. The sights, smells, sounds, touch, and then a nice taste of hot chocolate that the owner provided as a surprise on our trail break! All senses activated and rejuvenated.

We were split up into three sleds. Each one of us had a musher and a different amount of dogs. The leader had the most with my cousin’s husband, she and the owner were next, then I was last with the most relaxed person to mush with. He was, and is, so knowledgeable and kind. I highly recommend booking him as your guide if you are ever in his neck of the woods whilst in Alaska. So much happened on this trip that this blog needs to be separated into two different entries. We were standing around and waiting for the gentlemen, mushers, to get their gear and be ready. This did not take long because they are professional and super on top of everything. After they got us situated in our sled, they took off to get the dogs energy out a bit. While on the trail they explained the commands and told us we would be mushing on that day. We thought we were just riding in the sled, oh no, no…we were going to mush!! Thank you for reading and stay tuned for the rest of the story on Monday!!

Sled Dog — CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL PAINTING!

Have a wonderful start to December everybody. I have been working on ornaments and Christmas orders. The ornaments are below and you can click on the painting to view them individually. Also, if you would like to show support, I recently joined “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 and 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! One more bit of news…My Newsletter also went out today and the sign up is on my homepage if you are interested. I have a coupon running for everyone who has signed up. Have a wonderful weekend!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting

Rainbow Mountains

The air was crisp and thin at the start of our hike to heaven. The buses were all parked and guides were scurrying about gathering all their clients like mother hens. Each guide broke the tourists into groups and went on to get to the top of the mountain. Since we arrived so late, our guide told us we had to be back on the bus soon so we only had a few hours at the top. We new that time was of the essence and we had to hoof it! This being said….our guide took off…with the oxygen. I have never used it in my life or needed it hiking in Colorado, so I wasn’t worried, just a little nervous, and very aware to watch my breathing. The whole hike was a slow incline up the mountain. We packed both our bags with our thermals, fleece, and rain/windbreaker jackets. We also brought our snow gloves in case it snowed and jackets too. Well, we needed everything, okay…here we go!

We followed the herds of people from the parking lot and walked at a steady pace talking the whole way. Many people decided they were done walking and took rides on the horses offered. Men and women who lived nearby brought their horses and rode the tourists up the mountain while they walked on foot leading the way. Then, they would run down to catch their next fare, and they were all in sandals!! Impressive stamina. My goal was to not take a ride on the horse, not out of stubborness, I just felt the horses could use a rest. They looked super overworked. So on we walked and many people stopped to ask me if I wanted a ride in their horse. Chris was wonderful and ended up carrying my pack too, which I gave reluctantly. I didn’t want him to strain himself but he is super strong, and I am very grateful. I had to stop several times near the end and Chris noticed the trees stopped growing the higher up we were.

A lack of oxygen for the trees to grow was an interesting discovery. Seeing herds of llamas grading was quite enjoyable as well. The whole hike to the top was sunny and amazing. We reached the final hill and I was so excited. Chris looked at me and asked if I was okay and I said let’s do this! About 10-20 feet from the top I sat down and he sat with me. It was an insane feeling of helplessness. I literally had to go inside my mind and calm down the fear of not being able to breathe. I sat for what felt like forever which was a minute in reality and then took Chris’s hand to hold the whole way up. We did it! Success! Chris struggled breathing too and really held it together by staying calm. Our guide met us at the top and we told him about the asthma and he offered the oxygen. I figured since I made it, I didn’t need to put my mouth in something everyone used. We said thank you but we are okay. He replied we had 10 minutes to enjoy and head back down. We made it to the top in an hour and 41 minutes and thought we had more time. Surrounded by the beauty of the mountain, we just looked at each other, smiled, and relished in every second.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR PAINTING!

We took a ton of photos, well, as much as we could in the time frame. Then we changed into our snow clothes because the snow came in. On the way down it did get sunny and we did shed the clothing back to our original attire. This wonder is a must see if you are ever in Peru and near Cusco! We highly recommend it. I just wanted you all to know about the breathing factor…so you can be prepared. Everything was worth it to see these mountains. Everything!

Thank you for reading and I hope you have a happy, and safe, weekend!

-Karen Hilliard