Tag: New Blog

Fletcher Trail Part Two

As we trekked up Fletcher Trail on Mt. Charleston, I was beginning to know how steep the incline really was. My breathing started to become quicker and shorter. In some parts I felt as if I was gasping a bit to get oxygen to my lungs. There was the terrifying thought of the smoke in the air and if it was a problem for the baby or myself. Then, I remembered, this was my first uphill hike in nearly two years and I had a bit more weight to carry than previous hikes. Not only have I gained weight due to pregnancy and delivery…I also had an entirely different being attached to my back. My husband and I are very tall and above the average height for a man or woman so it makes sense that our child is also tall for her age. I am lucky that she already would love to walk the trails with me. This being said…we do stop a lot to pick up rocks and find fascinating wonders of nature. Hiking these days is truly different and I love every minute of it.

The constant reminder to stop and enjoy the moment is wonderful. We never had a problem doing this before, yet now it is even more necessary. The things found by a child are items I would forget to take a second look at normally. I love the decay and decomposition of nature and recently have had the experience to look upon it with a completely new lens. Also on these new hiking excursions I have found sketching to be completely changed. Now, I am content with just a line. A hint of the subject if you will. Then a photograph for background reference just for these blogs, and a little painting upon returning home. This new way of looking at the world is becoming my favorite genre of my life. This is my best chapter yet in the book of life being created. In Friday’s blog, I will write about the rock fascination and the smells of the trail. Stay tuned and have a wonderful Wednesday!

Thank you for reading,

-Karen Hilliard

I created two small 4” x 4” paintings on this hike. More will be written about them in the future blogs as well. If you would like to view or purchase one of these paintings, just click them and you will be directed straight to them on my website.

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting

Fletcher Trail Part One

Driving up the mountain to the trail was an experience. The smoky air created a haze through the valley and I was unsure we would be able to hike. Stopping at the Visitor’s Center to speak with the rangers was a must to check on air quality and conditions. The verdict was that we still had time to hike safely. We were good on water and snacks but I still wanted to choose a quick out and back trail for safety reasons. The original goal was to hike the North Loop Trail, yet I decided on Fletcher. I had no idea the once thought of as a flat trail was actually a bit steep and an incline for the whole start. A lot can change when carrying a tiny human on my back. I am learning a lot in this new era of my life. Some of it, I am about to share with all of you.

Arriving in the parking lot was a feat in itself and we were lucky to have found a space. Then, there is the gathering of items, getting everything together, changing a baby, and getting her situated in the backpack. This is her favorite part of the entire experience. She loves being up in the air and among the trees. The water was ready, the snacks and diapers were packed. Good to go! Leaving the parking lot we ran into two hikers and I mentioned Ponderosa Pines smell like butterscotch if they wanted to smell them on the hike. They scoffed it off and hiked on, yet two really nice people overheard and said, “They do! Isn’t it so cool!” I love random, awesome people!!

After this I began our hike up, yes up, Fletcher Trail!! I will write more about our amazing experience in my blog on Wednesday, and for now I will leave you with these sketches I did. The sketch on the trail was a quick pen line with some circles to represent leaves. I painted the rest upon arriving home. I also created two small 4” x 4” paintings I included below. More will be written about them in the future blogs as well. If you would like to view or purchase one of these paintings, just click them and you will be directed straight to them on my website. I hope you all have a Marvelous Monday. Thank you for reading!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, 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

Sunflower Fields

The day started with thick cumulus clouds in the early morning and we were happy they stayed in the sky our entire outing. Having cloud coverage in the desert is always a glorious day because they help by blocking the radiance and heat of the sun. The forecast said today would be in the 80’s during the morning hours, yet we felt the heat rising quickly and knew our time would be cut shorter than expected. We took many photos in the fields which consisted of the sunflowers, pollinators, beetles, and our little family.

Watching our next generation wander and forage through the fields was quite entertaining. I loved seeing her hold her father’s hand as she walked through the fields. I took many photographs of them together that I will cherish forever. My husband was fascinated with the beetles and all the bugs working hard at their daily tasks. He took really great photos as I walked with our baby and explored the undergrowth beneath the flowers. She loved all the straw and sticks. Eventually we had to let her go barefoot to feel the earth under her toes. Textile stimulation is so important and drastically changes the experience of exploration.

We both took lovely shots of the flowers themselves and I have many reference photos to peruse for future paintings. This little visit to Gilcrease Orchard was not only a great family day but a wondrous art day for myself as well. I look forward to the many paintings to come from this experience. Have a Fabulous Friday Evening or Saturday Morning for my friends abroad. I also hope you all have a lovely weekend and get to do something fun. If you are in the Las Vegas area or visiting, there is an art show at the Sahara West Library Gallery. I have a painting on display in the Nevada Watercolor Society Fall Show if you are interested or looking for something to do. The display is up until November 23rd. There are also three other art shows going on until that date at the gallery. Enjoy and as always, thank you for reading!

-Karen Hilliard

Current Available Sunflower Paintings:

Sunflower Series 2 Number 1 | Karen Hilliard Art | Watercolor | Tiny Paintings

Click each painting above to go directly to the artwork on my website!

Tags New Blog

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

Weekend Hiking

My family and I were fortunate enough to get a break in the summer heat this weekend and make it out to the trails. We ventured to a favorite inside Lake Mead Recreation Area. The temperatures stayed below 90 for us both Saturday and Sunday. Our dog and daughter had the best time playing and exploring. I was in JoAnn Fabrics the other day and found these amazing sensory kits for kids that included sand along with textile objects. The excitement grew when we found patches of sand out in nature and our baby played with found objects such as rocks and twigs. She was fascinated with how the sand felt between her fingertips and loved watching it move around on a huge stone slab we all sat on. The dog was just happy to find some shade and hang out with us. I love being able to share the natural world with my family and have their creativity shine when we are outside together.

Another fun experience together was how far we actually traveled on the trail. The new backpack has been wonderful but the real excitement is all walking hand in hand. People always told me hiking with a baby would be much slower, and although I agree with this, it is very important to state how much joy comes from that slowness. She reminds us of the joy of childhood and how we never had to think about the big adult responsibilities. When we are outside, we all enjoy each other and take time to appreciate everything around us. My goal on the next couple of hikes is to quickly sketch a few inspiring subjects I find out there and then paint them upon returning home. Life sure is different now. Especially finding time to paint. I love the challenges and am blessed with new inspiration daily. Have a Marvelous Monday and thank you for reading!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog

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

“Frommer’s Whale” Blog

Just a nine minute drive from Arches National Park can get you to a desert wonderland. Many have trekked out to Moab for its amazing topographical wonders. Mountain Bikers especially love this place for the amazing desert slab sandstone trails. One could ride through beautiful canyons, challenging trails, beginner trails, and more! I personally went to this magical place on a bouldering trip many years ago. The weather was perfect and there were many rocks to explore for climbing purposes. One morning, I was fortunate enough to wake up to a gigantic boulder right outside my camp spot. I immediately saw a whale breaching out of the water. All this before my morning coffee, very surreal.

The rock and morning light created these beautiful blue hues all over the rock which made it look even more like water being splashed around. I pondered what I would have done if I was on a ship and saw a massive whale breach out of the water and jump super high in the air before ascending back into the ocean. There was no answer. I was just left in complete awe and decided to stare at the rock for a long time studying every inch of it. Later in the day I got a nice photograph of the same boulder and decided to paint it later when I was home in my studio. While out in nature I became very inspired by all the colors of the Southwest desert. It is truly a remarkable place to visit and I hope you all get the chance to do so. This Watercolor Fine Art Giclée Print is Available Now on my website. I have Four Sizes Available! Shipping is Included in the price for all USA addresses. I hope this print brings many years of wonder into your homes every time you look at it. Thank you for reading and have a splendid Saturday!

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, watercolor painting, watercolor print

Day Hike

Hiking today under the vibrant sun was a bit of a challenge. I chose a pretty steep start and it was the first hike with another person on my back. Totally worth it to hear my daughter’s laughter and see her face filled with pure joy. The heat was bearing down upon us so I made sure to not stay out too long and had us both drinking water out of our Camelback the entire time. I highly recommend the Deuter Kid Comfort Child Carrier if you are a mom with a longer torso. We bought ours through REI and I linked them above. This pack is amazing and easy to get on and off. I also was very pleased by the sunshade as it covered her face, eyes mainly, for both directions. She was also underneath my wide brimmed hat which helped a lot. The backpack was great and she did not overheat which was a concern here in the desert. A great time was had by both of us and I was able to get inspiration from the trail for the new sandstone piece I am working on.

I was fascinated by the yucca plants illuminating bright green hues against the red sandstone background. They reminded me of my paintings I did for my Red Rock Canyon Tiny Painting Series. Here are the paintings and if you click on each photo it will take you directly to the painting on my website. I was also reminded of the pine cones created a few years ago and how excited I am for this upcoming fall season. Now that I have this backpack, I am super pleased to be able to hike anywhere, but we do have to wait for the weather to cool down. Once this happens, my blogs will be filled with lovely pictures of the amazing scenery and hopefully a few awesome sketches of the day. Until then, please enjoy these photos and paintings. Have a wonderful weekend and stay safe out there. Water is amazing!! Thank you for reading.

-Karen Hilliard

Tags New Blog, red rock canyon, watercolor painting