About the Artist

The Work of Artist Hilary Mills

Hilary believes in painting from life whenever possible and carries her paints on her travels around California and New England. Her current Atelier training at the Golden Gate Atelier in Oakland is the icing on the cake in a long period of concentrated study. Drawing and painting the human figure in the classical tradition is a spring- board to my current body of work.

Confidence has come slowly but surely which is evident in my style. I have found that my paintings flow from my love of my subjects; whether still life, garden, figure, or landscape.  I especially love to paint animals.  Inspired by the critters in my life and the job once held at Sesame Street, the creatures sometimes realistic and sometimes whimsical, translate into those universal human traits. Currently, I’m on the Board of Ivory Orphans, subsidized by the African Wildlife Trust so I’m painting a lot of elephants. 

I have spent many summers in Vermont taking people plein air painting. The subject material is barns, cows, mountains and rivers. I especially enjoy using color harmonies and great compositions to convey a time in nature. Nature always keeps it interesting for me.