Artist's Statement

I loved art as a child and spent countless hours drawing and making things. As an adult, a large part of my life was devoted to raising my two sons and nurturing a successful career in marketing. By necessity, art was mostly put on hold for a lot of years. Now that I'm retired, and my sons are launched, I get to focus on art again. How lucky am I?!

I was always drawn to stained glass and said “someday” for a lot of years, wandering into the Stained Glass Garden in Berkeley every time I was in the area. Finally, I took some classes in 2014 and started working in glass, experimenting with different techniques and materials. 

Next came a return to painting, which I had set aside since my college days. I had painted with acrylics but decided to learn oils. It's an ongoing evolution experimenting with various techniques and formats.

I paint subject matter that sparks feelings of adventure and happiness for me: the big ships coming and going from around the world...Dia de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico I've taken part in, sunrises in Sicily. I'm inspired by my travels and from roaming the areas nearby my home, such as Briones and the Martinez waterfront.

And finally, I tried my hand at clay and really fell in love with it. Currently I'm working on a series of whimsical hand-built "swimmers", both human and animal. I feel that somehow a synergy is created from working in multiple mediums. 

I'm fortunate to be part of a vibrant and supportive art community, and am a member of the Concord and Martinez Art Associations. I volunteer with both, helping to market and raise awareness of our local art happenings.


Denise Hillman

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