Selected for National Plein Aire Event!

Hurray! I just found out that I've been selected to participate in the nationally juried "Easels in Frederick" event, June 22 - 26, 2011.http://easelsinfrederick.org

I can hardly wait. I hope the weather will be lovely, since I'm a watercolorist and most artists selected for these events are oil painters. They don't have to worry about drying their paint!

Check it out. Frederick, MD is a beautiful and historic town. I think it will provide me with many opportunities to produce some colorful and sharp watercolors.

I'm grateful for another opportunity.

Here, I'm attaching a painting that was produced "en plein aire" last summer. It's for sale, of course! If anyone out there in computer neverland is interested, send me an email! This piece was painted in the countryside and measures about 17" by 12" unmatted.

National Exhibits for Catherine Hillis

I've had paintings accepted in three national shows during the past three weeks:

Round 'n Round has been selected for the Watercolor Missouri National 2011 on exhibit at the Winston Churchill Museum and Library in Fulton, MO during Spring 2011.

Monday Morning will be on exhibit at the Georgia Watercolor Society's 2011 National Exhibition at the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center in Carrollton, GA March 1 - April 21, 2011.

The Pedicure was accepted in the Rockies West 2011 National Show in Grand Junction, CO at the Cultural Arts Center there.

My show at Art Square just about sold out during opening night. Whew. What a month.....

The Big One: Art Square Exhibit opens in Leesburg, VA on 2/11/11

My first Loudoun County, VA solo exhibit in several years opens on February 11, 2011, with a reception from 5:30 pm until 8. The show is looking beautiful. There are lots of colorful and complex watercolors that will star in this show. I'm excited, nervous and hopeful. Please come see my work and join me at the reception on Friday...

Whatever paintings remain in the show will then travel to the Crary Gallery in Warren, PA on March 3.

I'm teaching a workshop there that's already confirmed - if you're in the Warren area and you'd like to register for the class, please do so soon, because it's filling up quickly and my February workshop in Winchester has been sold out for a while. I'm very grateful to students who seem to enjoy my teaching style and it's wonderful to have workshops and classes that sell out!

Artist as a Multi-Tasker

A professional artist is a multi-tasker.

I'm currently working on painting and framing twenty paintings for upcoming solo shows, which I scheduled and applied for last year.

I compete on a national basis: just found out that I've had a painting (The Pedicure, see photo) accepted into the 18th Annual Rockeies West National Exhibition. I apply for an awful lot of national shows; I'm rejected from some and accepted into some. It's hard work, keeping my paintings "on the edge."

I teach every week.

I teach workshops out of town, at least one every month.

I do my own marketing, sales, tax documentation, paperwork, applications for the upcoming year, research, etc. etc. etc. The work is absolutely NEVER done, and, of course, what is the value of the actual painting, photographing and working in a creative process?

A painting is worth every penny of its cost.

Watercolor in Progress

Progress is being made on the painting of the Christmas parade.....I've been working non stop on this piece for three days now.


I like to move all around a painting, but I definitely develop focal points first. I don't recommend this to anyone. It's just my style.

I advise students not to become too focused on one area. When students stay in one area too long, painting and painting, they tend to overwork that one section. This leads to frustration, which leads to more overpainting.

The issue is usually one of contrast. The values are well developed in the one area, making the rest of the painting appear weak when, in fact, if the student will move around the paper and paint "up to the values" in the adjacent areas, the work will usually pull together.

What Am I Doing? I'm working!

I haven't posted on my blog for some time. What do you think I'm up to? I'm working....and working HARD.

I have several solo shows coming up. First one's at Art Square in Leesburg, VA (www.loudounacademy.org.) Opening Reception is Friday, Feb. 11, from 5:30 pm until 8 pm. Please come!

My next solo opening is at Crary Gallery and Museum in Warren, PA (www.crarygallery.org) in early March. I'll be presenting a watercolor workshop in conjunction with the opening. Warren is closer to NYC.

I'll be posting again before the exhibits begin; meanwhile, I'm concentrating all my effort into painting the most fantastic, wonderful watercolor paintings that I can. The one I'm working on today is of the Christmas Parade in quaint Middleburg, VA.

Back to work. I'm turning up the music, focusing and just painting. This turns into a wild sort of meditation that's tough to break, but this is what I'm created to do. I feel honored to be painting today.....

Christmas Shows 2010

I have lots of work available for sale during the holiday season. IF you're in Cleveland, Ohio, drop by the Pennello Gallery. It's fun and funky and has my work for sale!

Also, I have a fabulous snow scene, as well as some NYC pieces, at The Bridge Gallery in Sheperdstown, WV. This gallery is in a darling town with cute restaurants and interesting little shops.

This painting of "The Pink Box" in Middleburg is for sale at Art Square in Leesburg, VA, along with a delightful painting of Waterford, VA. I love capturing the history around me in iconic paint.

So, please! Go, see, buy and support local artists! Many, many thanks.