The Greyhound Dawg series began in 2003
                 Want to read about my own Grey named Wizard?

---

Artist Statement by Mary Hillier

What is LaLaLand?

​What Art Means
to Me

​&

How Did I Become an Artist?

click for Exhibitions

My favorite subject to paint is the figure and face and all that surround them, including all God’s creatures. The images I paint are straight out of my head. There is no preparatory work. I sit down in front of a canvas or piece of paper and start painting. Often I am surprised at what comes through. A few times I have created prophetic art.

I paint quickly and intuitively. My senses choose colors and I let odd things remain. Sometimes I build on them since I love raw art and strange happenings. I work in my home studio surrounded by lots of dogs.
 
In 1989 I imagined the first Redhaired Girl, a series of redheads, that heralded the birth of two first children in my family with that haircolor. In 2003 The Greyhound Dawg series devoted to retired racing hounds was born. The theme is retirement and the enjoyment they find in adoptive homes. Lately I find myself mixing creatures, even wildlife together.

I walk through this world with my head in another, so I can say inspiration is never far away. I lean towards an “outsider” point of view. Mostly abstract, usually colorful. Several images repeat, among people and pets such as roses, sunflowers, flamingos. All have meaning to me. Deeply personal. Perhaps you also think of a rose as a scent from heaven? A sunflower as a staff of pure power and righteousness? A beautiful bird as a messenger?
 
How did I become an artist? Most of us say it existed all of our lives, but I didn’t really do much with my talent until I was required to take an art credit to finish an associate’s degree when I was 37 years old. That was the beginning of this life. Because I wanted to be part of the painting studio at McNeese University I took the credits necessary to qualify and went on to graduate with a full degree in art.
 
My hands are my tools. If I didn’t have brushes I would use my fingers! Through the years I have given up on being a realist painter. It won’t happen so I plow on...