Tag: New Blog

Ethel M Chocolates and Cactus Garden

The smell of sweet chocolate rising up to our nostrils from the tips of our lips as we took bite after bite of an amazing milk chocolate peanut butter bar from Ethel M Chocolates was captivating. We shared it as we walked around and ran up and down trails where there were no people. We saw a barrel cactus, Joshua trees, prickling pears, Beavertail, and many more beautiful plants. Baja Fairy Duster wisped in the wind and had bees working around the clock on the flowers. My daughter was fascinated with the lava rock out of everything. The colors of the lava rock were so beautiful on this cloudy day. I saw an amazing Dioxide Purple mixed with Permanent Alizarin Red, which I love to paint with my watercolor from Winsor Newton. For those of you who are not artists and follow my blog, it was a beautiful mix of violet, dark red, and a bit of pink. The desert really comes alive in the cactus garden especially on rainy days. Ethel M is well taken care of. The plants are nicely spaced so they are all very appealing to the eyes.

Karen Hilliard Art | Blog | Ethel M Chocolates | Cactus Garden

The people inside the chocolate factory at the gift shop are very, very nice. They offered us a sample of one of their truffles which we also enjoyed. Bittersweet chocolate with a creamy vanilla center touched our lips and tickled our taste buds with such an amazing flavor. My daughter is so good at sharing so she had a teeny little bite and then gave the rest to “mama.“ She had a tiny little taste of two little treats. Then, she danced to the music that they played at the cactus garden while lifting her pink boots up into the air. We brought her cute little rainbow umbrella, just in case it rained, but we were lucky. Drops came when we arrived and caressed the windshield of our car, then ceased to continue before we even walked around. It was a very lovely day outside and I look forward to sketching about it in our book. What did you all do today? Thank you for reading and I hope you had 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 all of your support!

Tags New Blog

Snow Days Part Two

So, hiking up the mountain pass to get to the trail was no easy feat. I realized about 100 feet in that I was on an incline. Prior to backpacking another human, I had no recollection that it was that intense. We parked pretty far away from the entrance to Fletcher Trail. I am laughing right now because I thought we parked a lot closer and was super happy with our spot. While walking I got in my head and counted my breaths to keep my mind steady. Luckily, there were children sledding to the left of us right off the road so it was a joyous walk. I imagined our daughter doing the same and it brought a smile to my face. Her and I pointed out people and animals we saw all the while my husband and dog were behind us. Eventually, I asked him to go ahead and I took my time. He definitely walked at a slow pace and stayed with us the whole time. Our dog tends to pull on the leash as if he is a sled dog in Alaska so I figured if he was the “lead dog” he may not pull as hard to get in the front. He ended up relaxing and it was a nice, slow, meandering hike to the trailhead.

Sled Dog — **ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR…AVAILABLE…CLICK HERE!**

Once we arrived there was some slippery packed down snow almost in the form of ice. We navigated around it nicely and then it got a lot more slushy in the sun spots. It was not until we trekked a little higher up the trail that the snow started to be crunchy and deep. We were so thankful and excited it turned into an awesome hike that the dog, and toddler, got to experience a wonderful winter wonderland. I mentioned in the previous blog about her building a “snow..ma” and walking around carefully through the snow. Watching her hunt for sticks for the arms, hair, and nose was also a precious moment. Our dog needed to be entertained with flying snowballs so he would leave her alone and not try to eat her sticks. My husband threw the snow one way and the dog went the other. He eventually paid attention and ran in the right direction but it was hilarious to watch. I think he was just overstimulated by all the amazing smells and sights. Were any of you able to go to the snow this year? Leave a comment below if you want to share! Thank you for reading and have a marvelous Monday…night!

-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 Fairbanks, New Blog, watercolor painting

Snow Days

While writing this blog in my mind for the last week and not knowing where to begin, I found a lovely song on Instagram available for reels. As I looked over my videos to inspire this post and decided on tapping into certain moments of the hike…the song choice flowed with our daughter walking around in the snow. The band is Inland Sky and the song is linked here, “Little Hands.” Have a listen if you will. This song is heartfelt and sums up not only the hiking expeditions or her joy, but motherhood along with hopes and dreams for all children. I immediately thought of her tiny hands finally touching snow and building her snowman, person, woman, yet she calls it “snow..ma.” I can close my eyes and remember the smells from the trail and how different the butterscotch of the ponderosa pines drifts up my nostrils compared to the heat of summer. Not as strong of a scent. All three of us pressed our noses up to the trees to see if one was stronger than the last. They all pretty much smelled mild.

Hearing the snow crunch beneath our feet was another sensation and it was interesting to feel myself sink further into the snow due to the tiny human on my back. She could not wait to get out of the backpack this time. Adventuring is about to change and a transition is coming for sure. As she grows, so do we as parents, and our trekking takes interesting turns. The dog was running around in certain sections where there were no travelers around and he had the time of his life. My husband and I both looked at each other and said, “well, he will sleep for about three days after this!” Um…nope, it was about a day and a half. This is the deal anyone signs up for if they get a herding dog. He is high energy and keeps us on our toes at all times…perfect for a toddler running around. I posted two videos on social media. One video of our dog running up the mountain chasing snowballs and the other of our daughter carefully navigating her movements around rocks through the snow. This week’s blogs will be all about this family excursion. Thank you for reading and I hope you had a Marvelous Monday!

-Karen Hilliard

We hiked Fletcher Canyon again. Although a completely different time of year, it reminded me of hiking with our daughter when I created the tiny paintings below.

Karen Hilliard Art Blog | Fletcher Trail | Mt. Charleston — AVAILABLE CLICK HERE

Also, if you would like another way to show support, I have a few options. “Buy me a

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

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

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

Finding Treasures

Out in the desert among the quiet landscape, we find many treasures. Sticks are one of our favorite things to find. They are sculpted by time and the elements. Wood withstands the various temperatures and climate changes…well, as long as one of them is not fire. Even this being said, we have found many bushes, and tree remnants from lightning strikes that are still standing. The joy of a child and the wonderment of this age is endless. We have a book at home called, “Not a Stick,” by Antoinette Portis that illustrates the imagination of a child with a pig as the main character. Our daughter found this book recently and the imagery is very descriptive of what I see when she walks around the desert with her treasures. I look forward to the day when she can tell me what she sees when she walks around with her treasures. Rocks often find a place in her pocket for the majority of our walks. Sticks, they get carried to their next destination until another interesting one is found. Below is a sketch from our experiences on the trails.

The pure joy in her face when she holds one up to show me is priceless. Yelling, “Mama, stick,” with giggles and then laughter. I look for lines and grooves in her finds and she examines the “holes.” We both smile and share moments in time. Each one of us is seeing the world differently and everything gets quiet. Tiny treasures in tiny hands. A few steps are taken and the stick gets placed down gently, then sediments get picked up and run through her fingers. The giggles continue. Then the wobbly toddler run starts as she finds a new treasure. What do you think it was? Yes, you guessed it…a “stick!” Oh the adventures we go on in my mind. I hope you all get a chance to adventure soon. Until then, have a Marvelous Monday and thank you for reading!

-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, red rock canyon

“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

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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

Signature Show 2025

The Nevada Watercolor Society Signature Show of 2025 was beautifully put together. There are so many gorgeous paintings hanging at the Wetlands Gallery in Las Vegas, Nevada. I feel so grateful to be part of such an uplifting society. The women and men who are members have welcomed me with open arms, interest, and compassion. Tonight, I went to the show to view beautiful paintings by people who are becoming friends and others who I am still meeting. Every time I enter and get accepted into one of their events, I feel amazed at the receptions. The atmosphere is always filled with light, love, and encouragement. A true art community. As I walked around with my daughter and husband, our little one skipped up to my painting and pointed, “mama, painting!” She turned with the biggest smile on her face because she recognized it from the hallway where it hung in our home. She also helped hand deliver it to be hung in the show. She was welcomed with smiles from all the adults around and everyone enjoyed her warm spirit.

I was grateful that this art event was held at a venue where our daughter could run around and explore while the show was happening. The Wetlands have a wonderful center for kids with many activities they can focus on involving the animals that reside there. So much information was at her fingertips and she especially loved the sculptures of certain birds, frogs, snakes, and insects. My husband and dear friend were able to entertain her while I talked with some lovely people. I was also able to run around with our daughter during the event which I will always remember. Crawling around in tunnels with her was my favorite. Thankful again to our sweet friend for wonderful candid photographs playing with our daughter!! They will be forever cherished.

Karen Hilliard Art | Blog | Signature Show 2025

The Nevada Watercolor Society and The Wetlands Staff put on a lovely show as well as snacks during the event. It was just a wonderful experience all around. At two o’clock they announced the prize winners and I was honored to have my painting, “The Joy of Autumn” chosen for the award of Honorable Mention. There are so many colorful and interesting paintings in the show. I was truly blown away to receive an award. I am very thankful to the judge and the NVWS for this honor. If anyone would like to see the show, it is up until April 24th. Please go and see it! A very kid friendly place as well! I hope you have a Marvelous Monday and get a chance to see the show! Also, if anyone is interested in “Resolute Protector,” or “The Joy of Autumn,” they will both be available April 25th for purchase. Please Contact Me Here if you are interested!

Thank you all for reading and for your support.

-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 art show, New Blog, watercolor painting

Horses

Our dream came true for our new human as she interacted with such a large quadruped for the first time. A male draft horse with long brown hair (coat) and a black midnight mane was enthralled with our daughter. I wondered what memories and new thoughts he was experiencing? Apparently, he had been around children many times for his first year of life and loved being near them. Our tiny human clung to my hip as she assessed her new surroundings and slowly warmed up to the amazing creature standing before us. This was such a wonderful experience all around and I am so pleased we were all there. My husband and I had been wanting to introduce our daughter to horses ever since she was born but were waiting for the right opportunity. I wanted her to have the chance to feel how I did as a child respecting the pure magnificence of what a horse truly is. I wanted her to see how they dance and move with the wind while also enjoying a human’s gentle voice or hand. A loving connection!

Our wonderful auntie shared her love of horses with us last Sunday. She was the perfect person to experience horses with for the first time. Not only was this trip enjoyable, and memorable, but it was also informative. Our daughter has been walking around the house saying “horse,” “pee,” “poop” etc. This is fascinating to watch and listen to as she tells her little stories of what she found interesting from our outing. Or, why she is committing it to memory because it was such a new and different experience. She had the pleasure of petting, and brushing the horse and his mane. She touched a lot of dirt and watched it run through her fingertips. We saw hay in small square and rectangle bite size servings. This one she was a little unimpressed with as the “hay” she has seen is on her farm video, and the feed did not look the same. She looked and shrugged, then continued to walk and found a burro. All the animals were friendly and loved being spoken to with kindness.

After our little walk around, she got to see a couple more horses up close and watch them go to the bathroom. This may be why “pee, horse” is what she is intrigued by. There is something about going outside and just being able to see a horse. To actually get to be near one and touch them, brush them, and be in their presence is such a gift. All the questions and hustle or bustle of the mind just seem to fade into their eyes. Then, a calmness sets in. Horses are just wonderful creatures all around, even the “untamed,” or “wild” ones. They happen to be a favorite of mine. They just are themselves in their most beautiful form. The one she got to experience was one of the most gentle and curious horses that I have met. We had an amazing time adventuring up to the canyon last weekend. The new word in our daily focus is now “horse!” Thank you again to our wonderful auntie and thank you all for reading. May your weekend be enjoyable!

-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

Swirls All Around

Swirls in rocks carved by time run around through my mind. Vastly changing with rays of light and clouds above cooling the day. The colors are remarkable out in the desert. The Brick red, Alizarin crimson, Rose, Burnt Umber, and Burnt Sienna flow together creating a glorious palette with various hues. They connect ideas and shift my thoughts into an overload of pure bliss. There is so much to paint out here and my ideas spark a newness for my painting “Breakthrough” I have been working on for so long. As I look at the blue mixing with orange, and yellows with purple, I dream about the day when my new rock piece will be finished. All of this is swirling around in my brain, and at the same time, all I can focus on is her. The reason my painting is still under creation is because the most beautiful piece of art is right in front of me saying “mama, rock!” All while holding her hands outstretched with sandstone in each tiny fist. Home. My heart is home.

Karen Hilliard Art | Blog | Swirls All Around

Swirls of feelings surpass everything and I am bound forever in this journey. What will she see today? How does she interpret the swirls I see? We play with sand, dirt, and climb again. We find “holes” that are as big as my tiny human and look inside them with pure delight. We hike, we talk, we walk around. Enjoyment in the movement of this place we have found…together. We drive home and discuss more of what we saw and I have an idea of turning felt into mountains. I cut shapes in different colors and lay them on a table. I ask her to make what she saw out in nature. She plays and stacks the felt upon each other. So many smiles and different facial expressions are being created. This…a new creation. The painting can wait. This moment, these swirls of time, holding them close forever, all around us.

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday and this brought a smile to your beautiful face. Thank you for reading!

-Karen Hilliard