Pursuing Truth in a Moment in Time
The Paintings of Hilary J. England
by
Georgianna Lane, for Fine Art Registry®
Whether portraying the delicate petals of a perfect rose, the thundering majesty of a great waterfall or a rich autumn landscape, Pennsylvania-based artist Hilary J. England strives to capture the scenes of diverse beauty that she discovers in her life's journey.
Salem Cemetery in October, by artist Hilary England
(FAR® ID #34220)
"I've been involved with art since I had my first conscious thought. It has been my earliest memory and continues to be my deepest passion. I pursue the truth in a moment, which can be translated onto canvas by my brush."
Artist, Hilary England. (FAR® Registered Artist)
Surrounded by Inspiration
Hilary doesn't have to look far to find worthy subjects. "I am amazed and inspired by life and all aspects of nature, people and the coexistence of the two," says Hilary. "My passion is painting people and landscapes, both equally beautiful and fascinating to me, so if I can combine the two, even better. I find the variety and sheer diversity of nature and humanity to be the driving force behind my need to create. Everywhere I look I see beauty, and for this, I am very thankful."
Hilary is also influenced by artists before her who have explored beyond conventional boundaries. "I admire so many different artists, we could be here until tomorrow if I listed them! But, in terms of core influence, it would most certainly be Monet, Manet, Degas, Cassatt, and most of the Impressionists and Post Impressionists. I really also love Jackson Pollock and he's influenced me the way he just chucked it all and followed his gut. No matter how much people initially hated or berated his work, he kept doing what was driving him, what he felt was honest to himself. Cézanne's paintings are just amazing to me as well..."
Sea Birds on a Gray Day, by artist Hilary England. (FAR® ID #33330).
Responding to an Inner Voice
Hilary is frank about her purpose for painting. "I never thought of a 'social' reason for doing what I do, to be honest. I can't sit here and say I have some great, noble philosophical reason behind what I do, because I don't. I do what I do because I can't do anything else - it is with me, an urgency always, a constant voice whispering inside of me. I see great beauty in so many things, even in "ugly" things or situations, but I don't generally want to portray that...we see enough ugliness in the world, and I like to express the beauty of the world, the interesting, poignant elements even in the most mundane objects or simplest landscapes.
"My role as an artist is not really, in my opinion, to be an 'earth shaker.' I give my personal opinion of the things and situations around me, more to encourage, to connect, and to show 'I get what you are going through' and 'This is my take on this'.
"I see my art as a record of my life also, and I'm not sure I'm ready for that to be distorted into a flag for a cause so, I still paint what interests me, and what moves me, and what is cathartic for me, at this point. But, that can all change one day. I'm a very flexible person and like to grow and change."
Summer Friends, by artist Hilary England.
(FAR® ID #34218)
Employing a Range of Media
Hilary has extensive experience in using a variety of media for her work but through the years, has settled on the ones that work best for her.
"I have used just about every medium out there I could lay my hands on in terms of experimenting, from egg tempera to encaustic, but I have gravitated to the basics. I prefer oils for studio work, although I still work a good deal in pastels just for the sheer enjoyment of that medium. I use ink and watercolor when I'm out for quick sketches and for field work, but I don't generally paint in watercolor - it's too delicate a medium, which I find tedious and frustrating, since I like the absolute range of oil, and the forgiveness of it."
Lilies and Wood, by artist Hilary England.
(FAR® ID #33335)
Successful Actions for Marketing and Selling Her Work
Hilary began selling her artwork in high school, where she had her own business painting jackets - for $50.00, she would paint a student's favorite rock band album cover on the back of their denim or leather jacket!
She sold her first portrait when she was 21 and began doing mural work and greeting cards in college.
Artist and Fine Art Registry® member, Hilary England
With the help of the internet, Hilary began selling paintings on a regular basis in 1999. Although she still sells online, she has a base of regular collectors now that buy paintings routinely, and has gotten many referral clients from them.
"I've sold over 200 paintings at this point, and many prints and reproductions. I've started to branch out into collectibles and gifts, but I'm taking that slowly - I still want to concentrate mostly on producing more art. Online is a big help in getting the works and the word out there. Facebook and other social forums have helped me quite a bit.
"I market through a lot of the major online art specialty commerce sites and some of the large auctions sites such as eBay and Etsy. I find this is a mixed bag and I generally sell lower-priced work there. My higher-priced work is sold directly to collectors I have cultivated from past sales, etc." She also tried local advertising but found that did not produce results.
The Secret, by artist Hilary England.
(FAR® ID #33334)
Discovering Fine Art Registry®
Hillary first learned about Fine Art Registry® from another artist's blog and decided to check it out. She was initially looking for a reliable way to inventory her paintings, keep track of them and monitor where they went after they were sold.
She began tagging and registering her work with FAR® and the feedback from clients was immediate. “My collectors were so enthusiastic and positive in their responses, it was very encouraging.
"Collectors love the fact that the pertinent information is registered, and that in case of something unfortunate happening, they have tangible records to use in order to pursue the proper channels of recovery, reimbursement, etc. I think it is very helpful in increasing a painting's value. New collectors have a record of it's origination and that can be passed from one buyer to another. It has become a valuable tool in terms of marketing and selling my work. And it's a privilege to be chosen as a FAR Featured Artist!
When asked how she sees her future, Hilary is characteristically enthusiastic, "Grand! I'm upbeat about the future, and my plans for it. I'm mulling over a few galleries and looking to hit the road this year with some juried festivals, to meet new people, new friends and just get out there and connect some more. I'm getting married next month and heading over to Europe so I'm looking forward to a very productive new year, and years to come."
Be sure to visit Hilary's Fine Art Registry gallery and her website here!
Niagara on a Fine, Cold Day, by artist Hilary England. (FAR® ID #33329)
— by Georgianna Lane
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November 1, 2009
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