Tag: New Blog

“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

Marvelous Mountain in the Desert

Bristlecone pine along the trails on mount Charleston are sculpted by wind and rain. For example, when hiking the north loop trail in Cayo canyon, you will find beautiful sculptures at the top near Raintree, a very old bristlecone pine, she stands alone. On the way to her majestic beauty, you can find many sculptures of these trees leading the way to her. I’ve done a small series of artwork on these very trees, because they are incredibly captivating. The colors vary depending on how high the sun is in the sky, if there is an overcast on the day of picture taking, and also depending on my mood while hiking. Sometimes I use a hint of yellow, blue, orange, as well as, of course, the contrasting shadows. I love the moments under an overcast sky where a different mood blankets over the subject I am photographing. The goal of this series was to capture to mood, movement, and possible adventures of these trees. Some of them were still alive and thriving while others were existing without their protective layer of pine needles. Some of these beautiful wonders had been struck by lightning and offered even deeper color hues of inspiration. I hope these paintings spark your interest and encourage you to see the beauty of our natural world.

Bristlecone Pine Series 1 #3 • Nature Watercolor Painting • Karen Hilliard Art — **CLICK THE PAINTINGS ABOVE TO SEE THEM ON THE WEBSITE!**

Thank you for taking a walk, hike, and exploring Mt. Charleston with me. This beautiful mountain in the desert is part of the Spring Mountain Range. The Peak of Charleston itself stands at an elevation of 11,916 feet. There are many different mileage details on the internet of how long the hike is, from 16.1 to 21 miles which is a vast difference. The GO Mt. Charleston Site has the trail leading from the South loop at an 8.5 mile strenuous hike. Here is the information if you would like to go to the peak. We personally prefer the North Loop trail hike up to Rain Tree. It is a nice steep climb and lovely in all weather. You can also keep hiking to get to the summit from here. If you have a favorite hike on this mountain or surrounding areas, please leave it in the comments below.

Thank you all for reading and have a wonderful Thursday!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting

Juniper Trees

Juniper trees are a beautiful sight to behold out at Red Rock Canyon. Actually, anywhere in the southwest where you can adventure out into the wilderness and find one of these beautiful specimens of foliage is a real treat. The berries are actually called cones and birds eat them, they can also be used to make gin, a drink for humans. The problem with the juniper trees recently has been bird droppings, or ding, with a mistletoe seed in the poop. This then attaches to the tree and sucks the water out of the bark to grow the plant, then the mistletoe eats the tree. The mistletoe is a parasite for the trees. Out in the desert, especially where water is scarce, plants have to fight to survive, and the mistletoe is really taking over a lot of the juniper trees. While we’re out hiking, we love to find these trees and stare in awe at their beauty, always hoping to not see mistletoe. When I stop to sketch these trees I try to capture their needles and show the berries in bright colors. To me, they look like Christmas tree ornaments adorning the tree naturally. What do you see when you spot them? Have any of you seen them in real life, or just in photographs? Here are some paintings of Junipers I have done over the last few years. Let me know your thoughts on the comments!

Red Rock Canyon Greeting Cards | Karen Hilliard Art | Juniper

What are you favorite paintings out of this little collection? What is your favorite tree or bird? I have a few plain air sketches of these trees from hiking as well and fortunately none of those have mistletoe. Please do not ever eat the mistletoe or berries as they are poisonous. I will not even eat a Juniper berry/cone if the mistletoe is growing anywhere on the tree. This parasite affects the structure of the tree. It can be removed carefully and trees can be spared, however that takes a specific skill set and knowledge in that area. Please do not attempt it unless you know what you are doing. Thank you for reading and have a marvelous Monday! Be safe out there!!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, red rock canyon, watercolor painting

Desert Life

Life in the desert is harsh and wondrous at the same time. I say harsh, because the animals have to survive in such dry and air conditions. The plants are pointy, poisonous, and protect themselves with multiple layers of pins or needles. The fruit is hard to come by and the water is scarce. All of this being said, the animals thrive, and survive.

The flowers bloom in the hopes to be pollinated and if so, the wildlife will flourish. Desert Tortoise surprise me with their ability to survive. one of the slowest moving animals, yet, they hold their own with their mighty shells. these creatures need to find a water source and can fill up by eating cactus paddles. the spines of a cactus do not hinder their mighty biting abilities. This is one of the reasons why these creatures are so fascinating. Another, is that when they are babies to yearlings, they can be flipped over and a snack for birds. How do they survive? How does anything in the desert survive? Especially without water! They do however camouflage nicely into the scenery and can also appear as a rock from a birds eye view. Maybe this is how they manage to avoid being eaten. Do you have any thoughts on this subject? For now, I will just share my love for tortoises with this Tiny Painting, “Waking Up.” I wanted to give this little creature some lettuce after a long span of time hibernating. These are amazing creatures who will get to out live most of us if the conditions allow them to.

Another animal I marvel at is the Bighorn sheep. I am in awe of their rock climbing abilities and natural agility. One time I was out hiking with my dog and some friends when all the dogs spied two bighorns running atop the mountain’s ridge. They were an amazing site to behold. The dogs felt they could catch the sheep and went bounding after them, yet the bighorn were way too far away to be caught. My dog stayed by my side and watched the others in disbelief. The sheep chased each other and looked as if they were having their own battle with one another and could not be troubled by any visitors. All of this being said, please make sure to leash your dogs and be mindful of the wildlife. We are always visitors in their habitats and do not want to disturb them. My friend’s dogs quickly came back when she called them and they were leashed the rest of the hike. Always be respectful out in nature. The desert is hard enough on the indigenous species living there without the hassle from outside visitors. Thank you for reading and tried lightly this Thursday!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting

Red Rock Canyon

The Southwest is filled with marvels from Sandstone and Limestone rock formations to the various vegetation surrounding them. The animals alone are hearty and spectacular. I decided for my first blog on the beautiful landscape should be about my own backyard, Red Rock Canyon and Lake Mead Recreation Area. This one will focus solely on Red Rock Canyon here in Las Vegas. The canyon is just outside Summerlin, which is a community here in Las Vegas. Summerlin is a lovely place filled with sandstone topography, and aesthetically pleasing stone walls around the businesses. You can find coffee shops, donut shops, pizzerias on your way out to red rock, or on your way back from the canyon if you are interested in a meal or a snack, after a long hike, or climbing session. There’s also horseback riding near the canyon past the 13 mile loop. Red rock Canyon has a lot to offer for families as well as experienced adventure enthusiasts. The 13 mile loop in itself has many pull outs with different names such as Pine Creek Canyon, Icebox Canyon, Calico Basin, Sandstone Quarry, and more. This has always been Las Vegas to me. Whenever I have friends visit, I try and take them out into nature rather than go to the strip to see the lights. I would rather take people out to the street sunshine and the vast desert surrounding all of Las Vegas.

Personally, I’ve only ever seen a coyote and some road runners inside the loop. I think we did calico basin pull out one and pull out two for several years. I loved running up and down the trail because the topography was nice and hilly. It was a very good workout. This is also where I first started climbing on rope on the panty wall and calico basin. It’s a great start for new or inexperienced climbers. Another activity people like to do in the loop is bike riding and then they often meet at the Dunkin’ Donuts in Summerlin at the end of the ride. I have yet to ride my bike around the 13 mile loop or to run around the entire thing. Have any of you been to red rock canyon and done any of these activities? I started going hiking just outside the loop and I absolutely love the freedom of it. Also, there are a limited number of people. Outside the loop I’ve seen Burroughs, bighorn, sheep, tarantulas, tarantula wasps, and much much more. The flowers and cacti are breathtaking. I am very excited to start taking you on walks out in this beloved desert ecosystem.

Thank you for reading and have a Marvelous Monday!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, red rock canyon