Featured Artist Patricia Ann Hillard

Artist Patricia Ann Hillard paints larger-than-life blooms, perfectly capturing their natural beauty. Visit her website to enjoy more of her stunning work.

 

 

I have found the most pleasure in life by surrounding myself with the creative arts; be it architecture, dance, music, theatre, or landscape architecture with the added joy of the beauty of flowers and nature. I love art in all its many glorious forms.

 

 

Life, as it is said, got in the way of my pursuing any of these wondrous pastimes as a career, or anything more than an enjoyable way to relax and dream of another world.

 

 

Painting was always pushed to the bottom of my to-do list, but I increasingly yearned to explore art. A recent major life change was about to free up available time, and I began to explore the possibility of making art my reality.

 

 

I have always had a passion for nature, especially flowers. I feel this beauty can bring peace and joy to the observer. For a lover of flowers (as they are naturally short-lived) this can leave one craving more, once the bloom has faded and the season has changed.

 

 

Creating a version which is timeless and everlasting seemed to me to be a wonderful solution. I share nature’s beauty captured forever on my canvas.

 

 

I explored the idea of painting flowers in a larger-than-life format. This showcased the wonderful shapes of the petals twisting and curling, creating their unique beauty. The effect of light, ideally the sun shining on the blooms, cast strong shadows. These bring a sense of depth and drama, and capture the effects of mood and light. The result can be magical. I decided to pursue this to the utmost of my abilities.

 

 

I came upon an advertisement by Jacqueline Coates, creator of Blooms Painting in South Australia. Jacqueline has a number of online and real-time painting courses available. I signed up, not knowing where this huge step would take me, but knowing that it felt right. Jacqueline is a great teacher and mentor. She has encouraged me to explore different directions and possibilities in developing my art practice.

 

 

I have found there are many like-minded people who appreciate the beauty of nature in a realistic form. This has encouraged me to continue my pursuit of painting with a balance of creativity and the ability to faithfully depict realist flowers. I paint in a large format to better appreciate all the subtle, intricate details.

 

 

I prefer to use the highest quality acrylic paints for their ease of use. They are fast-drying bright colours, and any corrections are easily undertaken. I most often use a dark background to best showcase and highlight the beauty of the subject.

 

 

My love affair with art and flowers continues. I feel it was meant to be, and expresses my joy in recreating beauty for all who view to experience forever.

 

Artist Patricia Ann Hillard invites you to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Want to stay current on cutting edge business articles from Artsy Shark, plus artist features, and an invitation to the next Call for Artists? Subscribe to our twice-monthly Updates, and get a free e-book on Where to Sell Art Online right now!