I'm intense and so is my art: bright colors, bold designs, clean lines that energize and add interest to any space. I layer oil paint and cold wax as thick as frosting on a cake. My many years in Africa shows up in my work: no fear, vibrant energy, rhythmic calm.
I'm an artist, but not only an artist!
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Hi Reader, I've been focusing on art since 2020 and loving it. I've learned lots of skills and especially how to fight the inner battles and believe in myself. I've kept my communication linked to my artwork, which meant leaving out big parts of my life. That didn't feel quite right. I am an artist but not only an artist! I’ve lived cross-culturally for decades, learned language and culture, helped translate the Bible into local languages and then helped people engage with it. I was one of the main architects of a large international trauma healing program. I’ve written books, developed courses, and presented at conferences. I'm a grandma, gardener and wanna-be chef. I wake up every morning to a fresh flow of new ideas. In 2024, I published The Happiness Factor: Art, Food and Stories from Around the World. It juxtaposed stories from my life with my paintings. These weren't necessarily stories about the paintings, just stories from my life. And some people liked my stories as much (or more than) my art. African theologian Kwame Bediako talked about integrity as bringing all the parts of your life together into a whole. For many Africans, that involves the traditional and modern parts of their lives. For me, it's integrating all the parts of me: artist, writer, world citizen, woman with a story to tell. Scrolling on Instagram one night, Jun Yuh's Story-Telling Challenge caught my eye. It's just what I needed: telling stories from my whole life, not just the art part. I'm in the middle of a 21-day intensive course doing story-telling on social media. I'm learning tons and for the first time in my life, the techie stuff is fun. What's the outcome? Click on the buttons below on Facebook (@HarrietHill) or Instagram (@HarrietsStoires) to see! I feel so energized to have found this course just when I was ready for the next step in this never-ending adventure called life. Stay tuned!
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Harriet's Paintings
I'm intense and so is my art: bright colors, bold designs, clean lines that energize and add interest to any space. I layer oil paint and cold wax as thick as frosting on a cake. My many years in Africa shows up in my work: no fear, vibrant energy, rhythmic calm.
Hi Reader, I want to learn a new language, to become fluent in it. I've been dabbling in it for years, speaking with such a heavy accent I'm pretty much unintelligible. Too old to learn it? Hogwash! I've learned languages before, and know how it works. First, your desire has to be greater than the pain and frustration of being totally disoriented, sounding like a toddler, and basically making a fool of yourself. Second, you have to go to the place where it's spoken and interact with real...
Hi Reader, Have you noticed I'm trying some new things lately? I've been taking a course called Creator College, and it's got my creative juices flowing! One thing I'm learning is to share more than just my paintings. I want to share some of the happiness and hope behind them, too. And that got me thinking. What if something you see every day could lift your spirits? A color, a painting, a photograph, or even a simple image can remind us of something good when life feels overwhelming. I call...
Hi Reader, So many art shows to apply to, and each with an application fee. Should I take the risk? I've been pouring my heart and soul into my art business for six years now. No sales at the two shows last weekend. . . What are the chances of getting accepted? I took the risk and submitted two paintings. Waited and wondered. I finally got the news: I'm in! I'm in the 32% of applicants that got in! It's a little encouragement along the way. I no my change is going to come! Corduroy, 21 x 11"...