The PebbleCreek Art Club is delighted to award Hilary Fiscus its April Artist of the Month.
Hilary was born and raised outside Liverpool, England in the United Kingdom. As a teenager, The Cavern, made famous by the Beatles in their early days, was a familiar haunt of hers; no one at the time realized the fame to which this local musical group would rise.
After graduating from college, Hilary was a medical administrative assistant to a world-renowned pioneer in the field of neonatal pediatric surgery. After several years, her career took her to NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. It was during this time that she met her husband, Jack. They then settled in Seattle where Hilary was employed at the British Consulate before her husband’s work returned them twice to Europe (Holland and, once again, Brussels). These European years provided her time to devote to her love of the arts in various media – calligraphy, stained glass, china painting, and upholstery.
Although the seed for watercolor had been planted in her pre-teen years when she eagerly awaited art classes, her interest did not re-emerge until many years later when a friend in Seattle suggested they take a beginners’ watercolor class. This was the start of her 20-year journey in the medium. She was captivated by the way the pigment responds on the paper to reflect one’s personal emotional response to a subject and found a magical quality in its transparency and glow. Lessons, workshops, and demonstrations from various well-known artists over the years contributed to her developing and applying her own style. She draws her inspiration from the beauty of the world around her. People, animals, architecture, and flowers allow her to express her attention to detail.
After residing in Seattle 25 years, a warmer climate called. In 2013, she and her husband moved to Phoenix where they rented an apartment. Her first priority before looking for a permanent home was to find an art group. She was fortunate enough to find Kathryn Tartaglia, a wonderful artist and teacher, recently retired, to whom she is indebted for widening her horizons in the field of watercolor.
In 2014, PebbleCreek came to her attention and the rest is history. Its amazing art center with such exceptional talent and camaraderie added to her painting journey. Hilary views watercolors as a continual exploration as there is always a challenge that arises along with something new to learn. She always keeps in mind the advice of a favorite instructor to “keep those brushes wet.”
Hilary has been juried into a number of art shows with placements and more recently a merchant award at the Fall 2019 Arizona Watercolor Association (AWA) Show. She has also won a first-place award at the PebbleCreek Art Club show.
You are invited to view Hilary’s artwork on display at the Creative Arts Center and at the Tuscany Falls and Eagle’s Nest Clubhouses.