September 9, 2025 • 29 mins
In this episode of Boulevard Beat, we welcome Nashville-based artist Hillary Howorth, whose instinctual, layered paintings are redefining the way we experience contemporary art. Raised in South Carolina and now at home in Tennessee with her husband and three young boys, Hillary shares her journey as a self-taught artist whose work has been celebrated in House Beautiful, Serena & Lily, SPANX, and more.
Her process—layering countless coats of paint and mixed media over weeks—creates tactile, captivating works that invite you to lean in and linger. Hillary opens up about the freedom of not being bound by traditional rules, the patience her work requires, and how she balances creativity with motherhood in the ever-growing Music City.
This is a conversation about art without boundaries, trusting your instincts, and finding beauty in the layers.
Street Style Takeaways:
Visit Hillary's website: https://www.hhoworthart.com/available-work
Save 15% site wide at www.houseofblum.com with promo code beat15!
Or you can use this link- https://houseofblum.com/discount/beat15!
Connect with the Hosts https://www.instagram.com/boulevardbeatpodcast/
Connect with Meghan Blum Interiors https://www.instagram.com/meghanbluminteriors/
Connect with House of Blum https://www.instagram.com/shophouseofblum/
Connect with Krissa Rossbund. https://www.instagram.com/krissa_rossbund/
Connect with Liz Lidgett https://www.instagram.com/lizlidgett/
Episode Website https://www.blvdbeat.com/about
Her process—layering countless coats of paint and mixed media over weeks—creates tactile, captivating works that invite you to lean in and linger. Hillary opens up about the freedom of not being bound by traditional rules, the patience her work requires, and how she balances creativity with motherhood in the ever-growing Music City.
This is a conversation about art without boundaries, trusting your instincts, and finding beauty in the layers.
Street Style Takeaways:
- Trusting Instincts — how being self-taught allows Hillary to create without limitations.
- The Art of Layers — why patience and process are essential to her textured, tactile works.
- Breaking Rules — the freedom that comes from stepping outside traditional methods.
- Balancing Acts — insights on raising three boys while building an art career.
- Recognition & Reach — how her work has been embraced by top publications and design brands.
Visit Hillary's website: https://www.hhoworthart.com/available-work
Save 15% site wide at www.houseofblum.com with promo code beat15!
Or you can use this link- https://houseofblum.com/discount/beat15!
Connect with the Hosts https://www.instagram.com/boulevardbeatpodcast/
Connect with Meghan Blum Interiors https://www.instagram.com/meghanbluminteriors/
Connect with House of Blum https://www.instagram.com/shophouseofblum/
Connect with Krissa Rossbund. https://www.instagram.com/krissa_rossbund/
Connect with Liz Lidgett https://www.instagram.com/lizlidgett/
Episode Website https://www.blvdbeat.com/about
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to boulevard Beat, a podcast where life and style intersect.
I'm designer Megan Bloom along with my co hosts, editor CHRISA.
Rossbund and gallery owner Liz Legit. This podcast focuses on
the daily highlights instead of the hustle, interviews with taste makers,
and personal conversations on how to highlight achievable style you
constrol one street at a time, boulevard Beat proves the
(00:30):
one you should take.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Today.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
On boulevard Beat, we're diving into the world of bold color,
rich texture, and deeply personal storytelling through art with Hillary Howarth.
Hillary's journey as a self taught artist began during a
season of healing, and over time, her layered mixed media
works have evolved into captivating pieces that speak to resilience, beauty,
and connection. We'll explore how Hillary builds her pieces one
(00:55):
layer at a time, where she finds her inspiration, and
the way she balances m with her thriving artistic career.
Well welcome, Hillary. We are super excited to have you
on our podcast and chat with you today.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Thanks. I'm excited to be here. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
We always like to start our podcast with the same
question tell us about the street that you grew up on.
What's your story, Hillary.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
I grew up in a small town in South Carolina
on a road called Mill Pond Road, a small bedroom
community outside of Greenville and South Carolina. But I loved
growing up there. It was you know, as an eighties child,
we roamed the street the star parents had no idea
where we were. We'd go down to the end of
the road where there was an actual pond and we
(01:38):
would play, like all the neighborhood kids would just meet
up and hang out until the sun went down.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Well, I feel very lucky that I get to work
with you as an artist. We kind of want to
jump in and talk about your artistic career, and You've
been very open that you started your career as a
beginning time of healing, and I'm just wondering if you
could kind of talk about that and how you got
into being an artist. I mean, I think you were
probably born one, but how did you get into more
(02:04):
of the artistic career.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Yeah, so, well, I grew up. I was I went
to a fine arts high school actually part time visual
arts and for dance, and I even for a dance company.
I grew up designing and sketching all of our costumes
for our shows, performances, and competitions. So I've always at
least sketched and drawn and had an artist side to me.
(02:28):
But then I got scared to death when I was
going to go to college. I got accepted to the
Fashion School for design, and I chickened out because no
one I knew in my little small town was going
anywhere like outside of you know, our bubble. So I
ended up, you know, just do to health science major
and working in pediatric dentistry for years. But when I
got married and my husband, I decided to start a family.
(02:50):
My first pregnancy, I was on a strict bed rest,
so couldn't even get up unless I was going to
shower or use the restroom, so the doctor told me,
and there's only so much daytime television one can endure. Yeah,
So it was like, I think I'm going to start
painting again. So I sat all day long painting for friends, family,
(03:12):
my own home, like as much as I could, and
I fell in love with it and it kind of
all went from there. Unfortunately, that pregnancy with twin girls
ended in steel births, and neither one of my daughters
survived after I delivered them. But I like to think
(03:32):
that my entire career and new path stemmed from their lives.
So it kind of gave meaning to not only my
life going forward, but to theirs too, so.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Much meaning, Yes, you've been generous with telling that story,
and I think about you, and I.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Think about them almost every single time.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Obviously I didn't know you then, but I think about
that as as your as your story, so their thought
of and then you're you're self taught, right, and talk
a little bit more about like exploring kind of what
your style was through that.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Oh, it was all over the place. I mean I
painted over the same canvas probably a bazillion times. In
the beginning, it was all trash, like this is awful,
but it was fun and it was healing, and I
just would spend hours trying different mediums, different canvases, paper, small, big,
you know. It kind of was doing it for my
(04:28):
own home at first, and then my friends and I
just kind of explored me. I did some landscapes. I
even did some portraits, so I did some abstract pieces.
But I loved it all and it was fun to
kind of figure it out, you know, and it's not
as easy as it looks out there, very well playing
in the beginning it is, and I.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Think that that is so important that you know, really
trying to explore, try a little bit of everything, all
of that, because there really is no failure then, right,
because you're learning from every single part of it, even
if it wasn't something that you wanted to continue with,
you know, I.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Yes, no, it was very humbly in the beginning, and
I've probably spent way too much time, energy and money
on things. My husband was very patient.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Well, And that's the whole part of the process too, in
your style, defining it and figuring that out. And I
think that that layered technique is really unique in what
you're so well known for. Kind of building one layer
at a time over weeks is what I read. If
that's true, I'd love to hear more take us through
that process a little bit, from your initial idea to
your finished piece.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
So that whole layered concept piece came from a dear
friend of mine who wanted a very large is probably
my first commissioned piece, large piece for her dining room
and her studying home here in Nashville, and she was
so kind to be like can we figure something out here?
And we kind of brainstormed together and we decided on
like this layered circles and like a gradient color that
(05:57):
kind of faded from heavy to lighter at the top.
And I had suggested that maybe it had some texture
to it or some layers to it, because as we
mold on to it, and I played around with different
mediums and mixing with my acrylic paint until I had
something I could work with. But dang, that dry in
time is brutal, so you had to figure out how
(06:19):
to speed that up and to still create the layers.
But so I have to do one at a time.
It has to dry fully for at least twenty four
hours each layer before I can add the next one.
But that also means I can work on more than
one at a time.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
I was gonna say, does that mean that your studio
is just full of canvases that you're kind.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Of adding layer over layer on.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yes, but they have to be flat on the floor,
so it takes a lot of real estate because it
will drip and dry and not stay where I want it.
So they do have to be flat, so that makes
it a little difficult. So typically I'll do like two
or three larger works at a time and then work
on smaller pieces in like another little area that doesn't
take as much space up. Yeah, it takes usually for
a large canvas piece and tank, you know, three weeks or.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
So when you were doing that and you're kind of
going through the process with the first one.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
When it was done, were you like, oh.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Man, I've got something here, Like did you kind of
get this Eureka moment? Like this is me, this is
my style, this is what I want to be known for.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Yes, it was, because it was just some different than
things I had seen other artists do that I I had,
like this awful moment. I practiced on like a smaller
because I mean these were this is a big piece
that she wanted and it was a triptich, but I
practiced on smaller pieces first, and you know, got her
stamp of approval before I hit that one. Because once
it's done, it's done. There's no going back. Unfortunately with
(07:38):
the style that I paint with. So I mean that
first layers down, I can't I can't take it off.
I can't paint them. It's done, right, But yeah, I
was like, this is exciting. And then she had people
come to her home, and then all my friends in
the area were like, I saw that piece you did
in Sarah's house, do you do one similar for me?
And then it kind of just blew up from there
where I got so busy that I was like, oh,
(08:00):
I think I can quit my job and just do
this full time.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
It's interesting because what you had there and what you
created there was something that no one else is doing.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
It's unique. It's your own perspective. It's something that can
be done over and over again, but in different ways,
different color schemes, all of that. But every single piece
I know from you feels cohesive and you kind of
switch up, you know, your shapes and your colors and
your patterns and all of that, but it's still true
to you. I think that that's kind of like you've
(08:30):
got the special sauce thereop, You've got this style that
can be switched up but stays true.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
It's quite a compliment. Yeah, but that's what I hoped for,
and I was excited that I found something and that
people could recognize as mine, whether I signed the bottom
or not. Like all friends who will see things out
and send a picture, we're like U saw this new
it was you immediately in another state or in a
friend's house somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
So that's exciting, that's right.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
I know it's neat to have a distinguished style that's
recognizable and just that instantaneous credit that you get when
you get to see those Yeah, Hillary, you draw inspiration
from nature, community and design, which is wonderful, but that's
not probably what people would think when they necessarily see
your artwork. Can you talk about how that has come
to be or how that shows up in your artwork
(09:18):
and how a recent piece shows that influence.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
I think anybody in a creative space is always drawn
towards design, whether it's fashion, architecture, interior design. It's just
the colors, and we know what it goes into. Like
when you design a space, I know exactly what it
takes to put it all together, and its work and
talent and creativity and it just bleeds into everything. And
(09:43):
I love design. So when I look at my palettes,
for instance, I try to put together colors that have
inspired me, whether it's just on a walk outside or
in interiors of a beautiful space that I've seen, or
a snaph shot in a photo that I've taken her.
I'm like, oh, that looks so pretty together. You see
(10:04):
the cool tones from the concrete, and you see the
warm tones from the brick and the trees, and it
all kind of looks so pretty together that I like
trying to experiment and put it all on a canvas.
Sometimes it works. Sometimes I'm like that that's not resonating
with everyone. But even if I think it's pretty, I'm like, oh, well,
hopefully someone out there. Sometimes it might take time to
find the right person.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
You talk about interior design, and you know, I got
really lucky that you created that piece for my own home,
and you are one of those artists that are so
good about working with interior designers. Do you like making
pieces like site specific pieces for rooms and working with
designers like that?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
I do.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
I know some artists, you know, commissioned with.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
I don't like it.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Yeah, be kind of a headache, and you know, color
matching and making it, you know, work for everybody. But
I actually really enjoy the process. I like getting the
fabric swatches in the mail and like seeing how it
all fits in and how my work is gonna, you know,
be a part of this beautiful design. And I love
the whole process of commission work and you know, getting
(11:05):
the story behind from the client, whether it's like some
personal thing they want to include in the piece, a
certain number of circles to represent their family, the swatches
from the designer, and we all kind of collaborate and
come together. I actually really enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
It's really cool too about your pieces is that they're
often put on very patterned wallpapers or rooms or fabrics,
and it works well just because of the contrast and
scale and the movement through the circles versus everything else.
But it's fun seeing all the color in there too.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Yeah, I know, I love. I love when I pieces
and while people are like it, like in yours list,
it's so beautiful on your walk over. I love seeing
all the different patterns and textures come together like that.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
Everybody has kind of like this moment where it's like
welcome to the art world and you kind of all
of a sudden feel like an artist.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
What do you feel like was that pivotal moment for you?
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Well, I STI don't feel like an artist sundays. I
still have a Foster syndrome, So I don't think it
ever goes away, especially you know when you're self taught
and you don't necessarily go to school for it. You
always kind of feel like, yeah, yeah, the imposter syndrome
and you're just playing this part. But honestly, I think
it was. I remember during COVID was going for our
(12:15):
daily family walk because that's all we could do, and
I just randomly I was like, I'm just gonna do
the release of these like minis today and see what happens.
And it was my first sellout and it was within
like minutes. And they were just these six by six
canvas pieces with the layered circles, similar to the large
canvas I did for my friend and I liked to
(12:36):
My husband was like, oh my gosh, they all soul
like that's done. I was like, oh, people actually like
it this thing, And that was my first moment I
was like, Okay, let's do this.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
I'm surprised how often I hear that, Like COVID really
was kind of that that moment where people were stuck
at their homes, they were looking at their blank walls,
and they all of a sudden got over that hump
in their mind that you have to buy artwork in person. Well, no,
you can buy it through Instagram or online, and especially
(13:08):
if you've got good photos or video and it helps
people get there. But I think people at first we're
like I have to walk into a gallery and see
it on the wall, and then they couldn't do that.
During COVID, it was a crazy time for artists.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
It was honestly, I think it was so good for
artists everywhere. I mean it was so good. I think
people they also had, you know, a little money sitting
around from they're not traveling, they're not you know, kids
are in school, like, they're not paying for babysitters, they're
not going out on date nights, they're not traveling, but
they're sitting in front of a zoom camera. I had
so many commissions during that time of people being like
(13:43):
I need a piece of artwork behind my head for
all these zooms yeah that I'm on and they would
be like, I need it from my office. So I
great work for that. So I think it was a
really good season for artists.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
It was.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
It was very affirming. I think for a lot of
people too that it was like, Okay, I've got something here.
People are interested. The Instagram algorithm was like what it
needed to be at the time.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
The times I tell everybody like that was just the
holy grail of Instagram algorithm. Now it's totally different vallgames,
and it was so good for us creatives.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
For a hot minute, hot minute, it was well, Hillary,
it's fun to see your art is just featured in
numerous magazines over the years, and you know, seen on
Instagram pop up and designers that I follow around the
country too, and even seeing it translate into spanks is
kind of cool.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
I'd love to hear more about that. How do these
collaborations or media features influence your creative vision?
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Honestly, I try not to think about it in terms
of like, oh, how will this translate into you know,
what people see for textiles and collaborations, But sometimes people
will just see it and then they like it and
they can see it first. But I tend to just
kind of go with whatever's in my head. The whole
spanks thing was such a wild thing. My friend I
still that set.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
It's I mean, I love it.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Yeah, but my friend randomly sent me this thing. I
was like, Oh, on spanks. You know, artists can you know,
put in their name and build a portfolio to submit
work that spanks. I'd be interested in to use on
textiles or whatever. And I did it, and I forgot
I did it, and they tried to email me and
they wanted to use something and you know, you think
(15:25):
it's like shopping spam folder because I buy s thanks.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
And I was like, delete, Lily, Delete.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Finally, I had like a DM on Instagram like Sarah
Blakely and somebody else like hey, we're trying to get
a hold of you, and I was like what. I
was like, oh gosh, I felt so silly, Like I
think I've been deleting your email. Sorry, but now I'm
like I check every email to make sure it's not
just a spam thing, because I'm I totally was deleting
(15:51):
their emails of them trying to like get my work
on some active wear.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
That's incredible.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
I do remember we had a buyer from Louis Time
email the gallery asking for a piece, and I mean
Tina and I wasted approximately twelve hours trying to figure
out this was a spam or real if we were
going to send this off just nowhere and not never
get paid, right, you.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Can never be so sure. I had a recent like
Hotel Great asking you know, to put my work in
a hotel. That's kind of And I looked at my
husband was like, it's so sad. You can't just respond,
like I'm goimbling this company. I was like googling people's
Thames and it was legit, but it took me for hour.
I don't want to just respond to everything.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
S Okay, talk to me. I know you and I
have talked about this a little bit. But you're a
mom of free boys and of course a working artist,
So can you talk to me a little bit about
how you balance those demands and like you still have
the creative rhythm, because sometimes it's hard for me as
a mom to like still have the creative energy to
come up with something great.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
For sure, I'm definitely not an expert here. I failed
daily at both probably, But I don't put a lot
of pressure on myself for like, I have to be
in the studio from this time to time and I
have to do this. I just give myself a little
grace there and know that Thames can change, and I
do my best to get it all done. I do
think it's nice my studio is in my home, so
(17:12):
I can work late once they're asleep if I need
to or wake up super early in the morning, which
I've done, and to get some work done. And in
the summers, man, it's just I just take it. Have
to take a break from the studio. It's really impossible
to find the time.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
But yeah, but do you have like support systems and
routines and things like that that you're like, Okay, this
is also.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Going to keep me grounded. I can keep creating this way.
I play tennis, right, I do.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
It's my outlet, you know, it's so fun. I am addicted.
I actually just picked up a racket for the first
time two years ago, just because I was like, I
need a hobby because most people's painting is their hobby, Like, well,
that's my job kind of now, so I need to
like do something else. And I was, you know, a
dancer growing up, so I like being active. And I
(17:58):
had a friend who was like, you want to take
ten lesson? I was like yes, and then I just
I kind of became a monster addicted. So I love
it though. It's fun. My husband also works from home,
which helps me tremendously because if I'm you know, in
the think of it in this studio and I can't
get out, I'm like if he's not on a call,
I'm like, can you grab the boys from school? He's
been so supportive in patient understanding he owns is his
(18:21):
own company too, So it's we both kind of juggle
back and forth responsibls in this house.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
It's the key to a good marriage, just being that
way in sing effort tack out yep. Definitely. Well, Hillary,
what experiments or new mediums are on your horizon. I
always love to hear about kind of what you're working
on next, kind of need more ventures into textiles or wallpaper,
any other design applications.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
I try to experiment sometimes with like new mediums with
my work, whether it's you know, just paper collage work,
you know, the background of my pieces. I do tend
to stick with the layers in some aspect of each piece,
but I try to experiment as much as I can.
It's just fun to play around in there. Whether some
of them are epic fails and some of them are
(19:07):
pretty cool, and I try and so I like to
keep going in the studio like that. When I can
ask for textiles, I would love love to look into waltpaper,
and I've been kind of toying with doing that recently.
Beginning in samples and different companies that will work with artists.
I've had a couple of samples that I've had sent
(19:27):
to me recently that I'm excited about.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I think your work would translate well into wall paper too.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Yeah, for sure, I.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Might have to do outter bath and my own home
as a guinea pig first there.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Hey, that's okay, so work.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
So I have people emailing me for advice for emerging
artists all of the time. You said, you've just went
out to coffee with somebody, so you're probably mentoring a bit.
What are kind of some of those key points that
you're telling people.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
I think the biggest help for me in the beginning
was finding a community of artists locally here. And we
have such a great little crew of women. There's probably
about ten nuts.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
That group is so cool, it is so nice.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
We probably get together, I mean just for like a
Christmas and then a summer like twice a year. But
we're always but we have a group text and we
are constantly bouncing. I dose off each other, sharing resources.
If somebody's like, oh, crab, I have a commission that's due,
Like I don't have a canvas, this sizes. Anybody have
one that can spare drop it off of our house,
and it is so helpful and I think having that
(20:29):
resource has just been life giving one. They're like my
co workers because I don't really have it, and it's
just nice to have a group of women that yes,
we're all in the same town, Yes we are artists.
Sure are we kind of competing for jobs maybe, but
there's room for everybody at the table, you know. Yes,
we all kind of rise together, which I think is.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Suther blank walls in the world exactly.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
And nobody, nobody's comtive, nobody even thinks like that. It
is just everybody help everybody. And it's been tremendously helped
full in my career. And that's what I tell everybody.
Might ask people like sit down, have coffees, like pick
other people's brains. I've never come in contact with somebody
who's like gatekeeping anything. And if you are, then you
don't want to be near them anyway.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
If they're gonna be like that, true people.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
That's awesome because there's so many I mean, creatives as
a whole are have lonely careers, so it's nice having
that support team and half the battles sometimes, I know
in my business is the business aspect, So being able
to like pick someone else's brain or how should I
do this, what's the right way to price this? And
you know, knowing what other people are doing and what
makes sense is wonderful resource.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
Yeah, we are always like balancing pricing off of each
other and that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
And the design community there is just skyrocketed too.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Do you have much relations with those folks as well?
Speaker 3 (21:49):
Yes, I mean I have a ton of friends, like
very close friends who are interior designers in town. Some
have used my work in multiple projects and others just
a few. But it's still very you know, and embrace
shares each other's names and contacts, and you know, they
put your work and present it in projects, and it's
it is nice how the artist and into your design
(22:09):
community here is so large. It means it can be
actually overwhelming sometimes, I'm sure when people are trying to pick,
you know, a designer for a project. There's just so
many very talented designers here in town.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
You know, as an artist, I think we're always growing
and we're always kind of evolving and changing, and it's
so nice to have, you know, people like you in
the design and then Liz having a gallery that can
help support us and give us that extra avenue to
show people our work and get it out there and
present it in your projects and then in the galleries.
(22:42):
So we're just incredibly thankful for you guys.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Oh my gosh. I mean, I get to work with
the best artists in the world, I realize.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
I mean, not only is everyone that's just incredibly talented,
but you're all good people like I know that I
could pick up the phone and call any one of you,
have conversation, ask advice, chat about life. I mean, it's
one of those things that I feel so thankful for.
Is that again, like Megan said, you can feel quite
(23:11):
lonely sometimes there is a lot of competition there, but
then you find the people that are interested in, you know,
rising the tide and you know, are interested in just
continuing to push forward and then also doing that while
being kind. That's like the sweet spot, right, So that's
what makes me excited to go to work.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
And I'm saying this, I'm sure the same with you.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
And I think that the art world is changing so
much now because there are collaborations and people are looking
to wallpaper or textiles or you know, we have a
few artists that have done some pretty cool things with
like anthropology and all of those different ways that artists
get to share their work with the world. And it's
(23:56):
not just like this traditional path anymore that you go
to art school and then you start with one gallery
and then you leave them behind and then you go
to the next one and blah blah blah, and it's like,
no relationships matter and try and cool things matter, and
I think people are just more interested in that as
a career now.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
Oh absolutely, I completely agree. And the more the more
you can have people sharing your work and helping each
other out like that, and the more like success you
have long term, you know, and social media is not
going to cut it anymore.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
It's just not it's just not, yeah, are you doing
any shows.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
I have done some local shows, but I honestly I
haven't done an in person show in a couple of years,
just because it does take so much out of you,
just physically, mentally, like, and you have to have so
many pieces ready to go beforehand that it kind of,
you know, monopolizes all of your time for that short season.
(24:52):
But they've always been very fruitful, not just in like
sales of course, but just the networking aspect to you know,
being in the room with all the different artists and
those friendships and sitting next to these people all week
and long, you know, chatting. It's yeah, absolutely, that's always
very great.
Speaker 4 (25:10):
And like the shows are sometimes a long game too, right,
so like people are walking. I mean, yes, you create
all those friendships and all of those and that's lovely,
right and the immediate, but looking down the line, it's
like the people that are like snapping the photo of
the for their bedroom that they're going to do in
a year, you know, and it's like that's interesting, but
it is.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
It is straight exhausting.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
Oh it is. And I do consider myself an introvert and.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Social social batteries probably yeah, pretty well.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
But by the end of that weekend, my face hurts
from the frozen smile on your face. You know, you're
just you're like cotton mouth from like talking so much,
and just during I mean even though you're just sitting
there all weekend, I feel like I've ran a marathon.
I mean just exhausting. So it does take a lot,
so I haven't done one. I need to do it again.
I've had a friend of mine who's cheering the in
our show next year.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Actually like that's a great show.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
What are you gonna do it? I'm like, hey, gosh,
any promises many months?
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Does that usually take you to prepare for a show
like that?
Speaker 3 (26:12):
So I think it depends on if I'm going to
do you know, more large works and then I mean
there's a variety there, but I think you know, the
small ones obviously are best, and then the very large
So like all the middle ones typically you know kind
of sit a little bit. But I mean it would
take me, I mean months because you're also working on
other things at the same time, so and then you're
(26:33):
just and then that's a lot of money and framing
and everything else, just sitting there like, please let this sell.
I just invested all this time.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
It's a huge investment, thirty.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Pieces of work that may or may not go anywhere.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
Well, Hillary, we always kind of like to end each
podcast with a few final thoughts, and we love to
hear about the beat that keeps you going.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
Oh, my family would be the beat that keeps me going. Honestly,
these crazy three boys that I god has a sense
of humor by giving me three boys. I'm like the
girliest girl on the planet. But I wouldn't have it
any other way. Like all those footsteps and giant heel
walking and screaming throughout my house is just such a
(27:14):
blessed I mean, I know how precious it is to
be a mother after how my journey to be a
mother started, So having the loudness and the noise and
the screaming throughout the house is Honestly, it's this the
beat for sure for me. I feel incredibly blessed by
having this family of mine.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
And finally, what's your perfect boulevard look?
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Like?
Speaker 3 (27:36):
Oh goodness, this is so hard. I honestly, when I
close my eyes and I think about, like where I
would want to be walking down the street, like fall
Tree Colors, a quiet street but still busy, Like I
want silent but busy with strangers, you know, because I like,
in my head, maybe it's intervited me while not talking
(27:58):
with everyone on the streets. I like to imagine you
know their own stories and lives, like we're all the
main characters in our own life. But when you're walking
down a busy street and you just meet someone like
we could be anywhere, but we're in this moment walking
down the street together, and our like paths have crossed,
and we each have our own like stories and lives
unfolding up that same moment, and it's just so fun
(28:19):
to think about where everybody's lives and paths have taken them.
So I like a busy street but quiet in my head.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
You have such an artist's mind and heart.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
That's so.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
Well. Thank you so much, it's been we We love
talking with you and hearing about your story, and you're
so talented, so we appreciate your time doing this.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Oh you're so sweet. Thank you for having me. This
is so fun.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Boulevard Beat.
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow along and leave
a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen
so you never miss an episode, And of course, follow
your host on Instagram at Megan Bloom Interiors, at CHRISA. Rossbund,
and at Leslie Jet. We'll be back next week as
we take a stroll down another boulevard.
Welcome to boulevard Beat, a podcast where life and style intersect.
I'm designer Megan Bloom along with my co hosts, editor CHRISA.
Rossbund and gallery owner Liz Legit. This podcast focuses on
the daily highlights instead of the hustle, interviews with taste makers,
and personal conversations on how to highlight achievable style you
constrol one street at a time, boulevard Beat proves the
(00:30):
one you should take.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Today.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
On boulevard Beat, we're diving into the world of bold color,
rich texture, and deeply personal storytelling through art with Hillary Howarth.
Hillary's journey as a self taught artist began during a
season of healing, and over time, her layered mixed media
works have evolved into captivating pieces that speak to resilience, beauty,
and connection. We'll explore how Hillary builds her pieces one
(00:55):
layer at a time, where she finds her inspiration, and
the way she balances m with her thriving artistic career.
Well welcome, Hillary. We are super excited to have you
on our podcast and chat with you today.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Thanks. I'm excited to be here. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
We always like to start our podcast with the same
question tell us about the street that you grew up on.
What's your story, Hillary.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
I grew up in a small town in South Carolina
on a road called Mill Pond Road, a small bedroom
community outside of Greenville and South Carolina. But I loved
growing up there. It was you know, as an eighties child,
we roamed the street the star parents had no idea
where we were. We'd go down to the end of
the road where there was an actual pond and we
(01:38):
would play, like all the neighborhood kids would just meet
up and hang out until the sun went down.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Well, I feel very lucky that I get to work
with you as an artist. We kind of want to
jump in and talk about your artistic career, and You've
been very open that you started your career as a
beginning time of healing, and I'm just wondering if you
could kind of talk about that and how you got
into being an artist. I mean, I think you were
probably born one, but how did you get into more
(02:04):
of the artistic career.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Yeah, so, well, I grew up. I was I went
to a fine arts high school actually part time visual
arts and for dance, and I even for a dance company.
I grew up designing and sketching all of our costumes
for our shows, performances, and competitions. So I've always at
least sketched and drawn and had an artist side to me.
(02:28):
But then I got scared to death when I was
going to go to college. I got accepted to the
Fashion School for design, and I chickened out because no
one I knew in my little small town was going
anywhere like outside of you know, our bubble. So I
ended up, you know, just do to health science major
and working in pediatric dentistry for years. But when I
got married and my husband, I decided to start a family.
(02:50):
My first pregnancy, I was on a strict bed rest,
so couldn't even get up unless I was going to
shower or use the restroom, so the doctor told me,
and there's only so much daytime television one can endure. Yeah,
So it was like, I think I'm going to start
painting again. So I sat all day long painting for friends, family,
(03:12):
my own home, like as much as I could, and
I fell in love with it and it kind of
all went from there. Unfortunately, that pregnancy with twin girls
ended in steel births, and neither one of my daughters
survived after I delivered them. But I like to think
(03:32):
that my entire career and new path stemmed from their lives.
So it kind of gave meaning to not only my
life going forward, but to theirs too, so.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Much meaning, Yes, you've been generous with telling that story,
and I think about you, and I.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Think about them almost every single time.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Obviously I didn't know you then, but I think about
that as as your as your story, so their thought
of and then you're you're self taught, right, and talk
a little bit more about like exploring kind of what
your style was through that.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Oh, it was all over the place. I mean I
painted over the same canvas probably a bazillion times. In
the beginning, it was all trash, like this is awful,
but it was fun and it was healing, and I
just would spend hours trying different mediums, different canvases, paper, small, big,
you know. It kind of was doing it for my
(04:28):
own home at first, and then my friends and I
just kind of explored me. I did some landscapes. I
even did some portraits, so I did some abstract pieces.
But I loved it all and it was fun to
kind of figure it out, you know, and it's not
as easy as it looks out there, very well playing
in the beginning it is, and I.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Think that that is so important that you know, really
trying to explore, try a little bit of everything, all
of that, because there really is no failure then, right,
because you're learning from every single part of it, even
if it wasn't something that you wanted to continue with,
you know, I.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Yes, no, it was very humbly in the beginning, and
I've probably spent way too much time, energy and money
on things. My husband was very patient.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Well, And that's the whole part of the process too, in
your style, defining it and figuring that out. And I
think that that layered technique is really unique in what
you're so well known for. Kind of building one layer
at a time over weeks is what I read. If
that's true, I'd love to hear more take us through
that process a little bit, from your initial idea to
your finished piece.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
So that whole layered concept piece came from a dear
friend of mine who wanted a very large is probably
my first commissioned piece, large piece for her dining room
and her studying home here in Nashville, and she was
so kind to be like can we figure something out here?
And we kind of brainstormed together and we decided on
like this layered circles and like a gradient color that
(05:57):
kind of faded from heavy to lighter at the top.
And I had suggested that maybe it had some texture
to it or some layers to it, because as we
mold on to it, and I played around with different
mediums and mixing with my acrylic paint until I had
something I could work with. But dang, that dry in
time is brutal, so you had to figure out how
(06:19):
to speed that up and to still create the layers.
But so I have to do one at a time.
It has to dry fully for at least twenty four
hours each layer before I can add the next one.
But that also means I can work on more than
one at a time.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
I was gonna say, does that mean that your studio
is just full of canvases that you're kind.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Of adding layer over layer on.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yes, but they have to be flat on the floor,
so it takes a lot of real estate because it
will drip and dry and not stay where I want it.
So they do have to be flat, so that makes
it a little difficult. So typically I'll do like two
or three larger works at a time and then work
on smaller pieces in like another little area that doesn't
take as much space up. Yeah, it takes usually for
a large canvas piece and tank, you know, three weeks or.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
So when you were doing that and you're kind of
going through the process with the first one.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
When it was done, were you like, oh.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Man, I've got something here, Like did you kind of
get this Eureka moment? Like this is me, this is
my style, this is what I want to be known for.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Yes, it was, because it was just some different than
things I had seen other artists do that I I had,
like this awful moment. I practiced on like a smaller
because I mean these were this is a big piece
that she wanted and it was a triptich, but I
practiced on smaller pieces first, and you know, got her
stamp of approval before I hit that one. Because once
it's done, it's done. There's no going back. Unfortunately with
(07:38):
the style that I paint with. So I mean that
first layers down, I can't I can't take it off.
I can't paint them. It's done, right, But yeah, I
was like, this is exciting. And then she had people
come to her home, and then all my friends in
the area were like, I saw that piece you did
in Sarah's house, do you do one similar for me?
And then it kind of just blew up from there
where I got so busy that I was like, oh,
(08:00):
I think I can quit my job and just do
this full time.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
It's interesting because what you had there and what you
created there was something that no one else is doing.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
It's unique. It's your own perspective. It's something that can
be done over and over again, but in different ways,
different color schemes, all of that. But every single piece
I know from you feels cohesive and you kind of
switch up, you know, your shapes and your colors and
your patterns and all of that, but it's still true
to you. I think that that's kind of like you've
(08:30):
got the special sauce thereop, You've got this style that
can be switched up but stays true.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
It's quite a compliment. Yeah, but that's what I hoped for,
and I was excited that I found something and that
people could recognize as mine, whether I signed the bottom
or not. Like all friends who will see things out
and send a picture, we're like U saw this new
it was you immediately in another state or in a
friend's house somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
So that's exciting, that's right.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
I know it's neat to have a distinguished style that's
recognizable and just that instantaneous credit that you get when
you get to see those Yeah, Hillary, you draw inspiration
from nature, community and design, which is wonderful, but that's
not probably what people would think when they necessarily see
your artwork. Can you talk about how that has come
to be or how that shows up in your artwork
(09:18):
and how a recent piece shows that influence.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
I think anybody in a creative space is always drawn
towards design, whether it's fashion, architecture, interior design. It's just
the colors, and we know what it goes into. Like
when you design a space, I know exactly what it
takes to put it all together, and its work and
talent and creativity and it just bleeds into everything. And
(09:43):
I love design. So when I look at my palettes,
for instance, I try to put together colors that have
inspired me, whether it's just on a walk outside or
in interiors of a beautiful space that I've seen, or
a snaph shot in a photo that I've taken her.
I'm like, oh, that looks so pretty together. You see
(10:04):
the cool tones from the concrete, and you see the
warm tones from the brick and the trees, and it
all kind of looks so pretty together that I like
trying to experiment and put it all on a canvas.
Sometimes it works. Sometimes I'm like that that's not resonating
with everyone. But even if I think it's pretty, I'm like, oh, well,
hopefully someone out there. Sometimes it might take time to
find the right person.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
You talk about interior design, and you know, I got
really lucky that you created that piece for my own home,
and you are one of those artists that are so
good about working with interior designers. Do you like making
pieces like site specific pieces for rooms and working with
designers like that?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
I do.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
I know some artists, you know, commissioned with.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
I don't like it.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Yeah, be kind of a headache, and you know, color
matching and making it, you know, work for everybody. But
I actually really enjoy the process. I like getting the
fabric swatches in the mail and like seeing how it
all fits in and how my work is gonna, you know,
be a part of this beautiful design. And I love
the whole process of commission work and you know, getting
(11:05):
the story behind from the client, whether it's like some
personal thing they want to include in the piece, a
certain number of circles to represent their family, the swatches
from the designer, and we all kind of collaborate and
come together. I actually really enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
It's really cool too about your pieces is that they're
often put on very patterned wallpapers or rooms or fabrics,
and it works well just because of the contrast and
scale and the movement through the circles versus everything else.
But it's fun seeing all the color in there too.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Yeah, I know, I love. I love when I pieces
and while people are like it, like in yours list,
it's so beautiful on your walk over. I love seeing
all the different patterns and textures come together like that.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
Everybody has kind of like this moment where it's like
welcome to the art world and you kind of all
of a sudden feel like an artist.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
What do you feel like was that pivotal moment for you?
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Well, I STI don't feel like an artist sundays. I
still have a Foster syndrome, So I don't think it
ever goes away, especially you know when you're self taught
and you don't necessarily go to school for it. You
always kind of feel like, yeah, yeah, the imposter syndrome
and you're just playing this part. But honestly, I think
it was. I remember during COVID was going for our
(12:15):
daily family walk because that's all we could do, and
I just randomly I was like, I'm just gonna do
the release of these like minis today and see what happens.
And it was my first sellout and it was within
like minutes. And they were just these six by six
canvas pieces with the layered circles, similar to the large
canvas I did for my friend and I liked to
(12:36):
My husband was like, oh my gosh, they all soul
like that's done. I was like, oh, people actually like
it this thing, And that was my first moment I
was like, Okay, let's do this.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
I'm surprised how often I hear that, Like COVID really
was kind of that that moment where people were stuck
at their homes, they were looking at their blank walls,
and they all of a sudden got over that hump
in their mind that you have to buy artwork in person. Well, no,
you can buy it through Instagram or online, and especially
(13:08):
if you've got good photos or video and it helps
people get there. But I think people at first we're
like I have to walk into a gallery and see
it on the wall, and then they couldn't do that.
During COVID, it was a crazy time for artists.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
It was honestly, I think it was so good for
artists everywhere. I mean it was so good. I think
people they also had, you know, a little money sitting
around from they're not traveling, they're not you know, kids
are in school, like, they're not paying for babysitters, they're
not going out on date nights, they're not traveling, but
they're sitting in front of a zoom camera. I had
so many commissions during that time of people being like
(13:43):
I need a piece of artwork behind my head for
all these zooms yeah that I'm on and they would
be like, I need it from my office. So I
great work for that. So I think it was a
really good season for artists.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
It was.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
It was very affirming. I think for a lot of
people too that it was like, Okay, I've got something here.
People are interested. The Instagram algorithm was like what it
needed to be at the time.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
The times I tell everybody like that was just the
holy grail of Instagram algorithm. Now it's totally different vallgames,
and it was so good for us creatives.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
For a hot minute, hot minute, it was well, Hillary,
it's fun to see your art is just featured in
numerous magazines over the years, and you know, seen on
Instagram pop up and designers that I follow around the
country too, and even seeing it translate into spanks is
kind of cool.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
I'd love to hear more about that. How do these
collaborations or media features influence your creative vision?
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Honestly, I try not to think about it in terms
of like, oh, how will this translate into you know,
what people see for textiles and collaborations, But sometimes people
will just see it and then they like it and
they can see it first. But I tend to just
kind of go with whatever's in my head. The whole
spanks thing was such a wild thing. My friend I
still that set.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
It's I mean, I love it.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Yeah, but my friend randomly sent me this thing. I
was like, Oh, on spanks. You know, artists can you know,
put in their name and build a portfolio to submit
work that spanks. I'd be interested in to use on
textiles or whatever. And I did it, and I forgot
I did it, and they tried to email me and
they wanted to use something and you know, you think
(15:25):
it's like shopping spam folder because I buy s thanks.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
And I was like, delete, Lily, Delete.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Finally, I had like a DM on Instagram like Sarah
Blakely and somebody else like hey, we're trying to get
a hold of you, and I was like what. I
was like, oh gosh, I felt so silly, Like I
think I've been deleting your email. Sorry, but now I'm
like I check every email to make sure it's not
just a spam thing, because I'm I totally was deleting
(15:51):
their emails of them trying to like get my work
on some active wear.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
That's incredible.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
I do remember we had a buyer from Louis Time
email the gallery asking for a piece, and I mean
Tina and I wasted approximately twelve hours trying to figure
out this was a spam or real if we were
going to send this off just nowhere and not never
get paid, right, you.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Can never be so sure. I had a recent like
Hotel Great asking you know, to put my work in
a hotel. That's kind of And I looked at my
husband was like, it's so sad. You can't just respond,
like I'm goimbling this company. I was like googling people's
Thames and it was legit, but it took me for hour.
I don't want to just respond to everything.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
S Okay, talk to me. I know you and I
have talked about this a little bit. But you're a
mom of free boys and of course a working artist,
So can you talk to me a little bit about
how you balance those demands and like you still have
the creative rhythm, because sometimes it's hard for me as
a mom to like still have the creative energy to
come up with something great.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
For sure, I'm definitely not an expert here. I failed
daily at both probably, But I don't put a lot
of pressure on myself for like, I have to be
in the studio from this time to time and I
have to do this. I just give myself a little
grace there and know that Thames can change, and I
do my best to get it all done. I do
think it's nice my studio is in my home, so
(17:12):
I can work late once they're asleep if I need
to or wake up super early in the morning, which
I've done, and to get some work done. And in
the summers, man, it's just I just take it. Have
to take a break from the studio. It's really impossible
to find the time.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
But yeah, but do you have like support systems and
routines and things like that that you're like, Okay, this
is also.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Going to keep me grounded. I can keep creating this way.
I play tennis, right, I do.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
It's my outlet, you know, it's so fun. I am addicted.
I actually just picked up a racket for the first
time two years ago, just because I was like, I
need a hobby because most people's painting is their hobby, Like, well,
that's my job kind of now, so I need to
like do something else. And I was, you know, a
dancer growing up, so I like being active. And I
(17:58):
had a friend who was like, you want to take
ten lesson? I was like yes, and then I just
I kind of became a monster addicted. So I love
it though. It's fun. My husband also works from home,
which helps me tremendously because if I'm you know, in
the think of it in this studio and I can't
get out, I'm like if he's not on a call,
I'm like, can you grab the boys from school? He's
been so supportive in patient understanding he owns is his
(18:21):
own company too, So it's we both kind of juggle
back and forth responsibls in this house.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
It's the key to a good marriage, just being that
way in sing effort tack out yep. Definitely. Well, Hillary,
what experiments or new mediums are on your horizon. I
always love to hear about kind of what you're working
on next, kind of need more ventures into textiles or wallpaper,
any other design applications.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
I try to experiment sometimes with like new mediums with
my work, whether it's you know, just paper collage work,
you know, the background of my pieces. I do tend
to stick with the layers in some aspect of each piece,
but I try to experiment as much as I can.
It's just fun to play around in there. Whether some
of them are epic fails and some of them are
(19:07):
pretty cool, and I try and so I like to
keep going in the studio like that. When I can
ask for textiles, I would love love to look into waltpaper,
and I've been kind of toying with doing that recently.
Beginning in samples and different companies that will work with artists.
I've had a couple of samples that I've had sent
(19:27):
to me recently that I'm excited about.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I think your work would translate well into wall paper too.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Yeah, for sure, I.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Might have to do outter bath and my own home
as a guinea pig first there.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Hey, that's okay, so work.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
So I have people emailing me for advice for emerging
artists all of the time. You said, you've just went
out to coffee with somebody, so you're probably mentoring a bit.
What are kind of some of those key points that
you're telling people.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
I think the biggest help for me in the beginning
was finding a community of artists locally here. And we
have such a great little crew of women. There's probably
about ten nuts.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
That group is so cool, it is so nice.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
We probably get together, I mean just for like a
Christmas and then a summer like twice a year. But
we're always but we have a group text and we
are constantly bouncing. I dose off each other, sharing resources.
If somebody's like, oh, crab, I have a commission that's due,
Like I don't have a canvas, this sizes. Anybody have
one that can spare drop it off of our house,
and it is so helpful and I think having that
(20:29):
resource has just been life giving one. They're like my
co workers because I don't really have it, and it's
just nice to have a group of women that yes,
we're all in the same town, Yes we are artists.
Sure are we kind of competing for jobs maybe, but
there's room for everybody at the table, you know. Yes,
we all kind of rise together, which I think is.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Suther blank walls in the world exactly.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
And nobody, nobody's comtive, nobody even thinks like that. It
is just everybody help everybody. And it's been tremendously helped
full in my career. And that's what I tell everybody.
Might ask people like sit down, have coffees, like pick
other people's brains. I've never come in contact with somebody
who's like gatekeeping anything. And if you are, then you
don't want to be near them anyway.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
If they're gonna be like that, true people.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
That's awesome because there's so many I mean, creatives as
a whole are have lonely careers, so it's nice having
that support team and half the battles sometimes, I know
in my business is the business aspect, So being able
to like pick someone else's brain or how should I
do this, what's the right way to price this? And
you know, knowing what other people are doing and what
makes sense is wonderful resource.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
Yeah, we are always like balancing pricing off of each
other and that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
And the design community there is just skyrocketed too.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Do you have much relations with those folks as well?
Speaker 3 (21:49):
Yes, I mean I have a ton of friends, like
very close friends who are interior designers in town. Some
have used my work in multiple projects and others just
a few. But it's still very you know, and embrace
shares each other's names and contacts, and you know, they
put your work and present it in projects, and it's
it is nice how the artist and into your design
(22:09):
community here is so large. It means it can be
actually overwhelming sometimes, I'm sure when people are trying to pick,
you know, a designer for a project. There's just so
many very talented designers here in town.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
You know, as an artist, I think we're always growing
and we're always kind of evolving and changing, and it's
so nice to have, you know, people like you in
the design and then Liz having a gallery that can
help support us and give us that extra avenue to
show people our work and get it out there and
present it in your projects and then in the galleries.
(22:42):
So we're just incredibly thankful for you guys.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Oh my gosh. I mean, I get to work with
the best artists in the world, I realize.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
I mean, not only is everyone that's just incredibly talented,
but you're all good people like I know that I
could pick up the phone and call any one of you,
have conversation, ask advice, chat about life. I mean, it's
one of those things that I feel so thankful for.
Is that again, like Megan said, you can feel quite
(23:11):
lonely sometimes there is a lot of competition there, but
then you find the people that are interested in, you know,
rising the tide and you know, are interested in just
continuing to push forward and then also doing that while
being kind. That's like the sweet spot, right, So that's
what makes me excited to go to work.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
And I'm saying this, I'm sure the same with you.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
And I think that the art world is changing so
much now because there are collaborations and people are looking
to wallpaper or textiles or you know, we have a
few artists that have done some pretty cool things with
like anthropology and all of those different ways that artists
get to share their work with the world. And it's
(23:56):
not just like this traditional path anymore that you go
to art school and then you start with one gallery
and then you leave them behind and then you go
to the next one and blah blah blah, and it's like,
no relationships matter and try and cool things matter, and
I think people are just more interested in that as
a career now.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
Oh absolutely, I completely agree. And the more the more
you can have people sharing your work and helping each
other out like that, and the more like success you
have long term, you know, and social media is not
going to cut it anymore.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
It's just not it's just not, yeah, are you doing
any shows.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
I have done some local shows, but I honestly I
haven't done an in person show in a couple of years,
just because it does take so much out of you,
just physically, mentally, like, and you have to have so
many pieces ready to go beforehand that it kind of,
you know, monopolizes all of your time for that short season.
(24:52):
But they've always been very fruitful, not just in like
sales of course, but just the networking aspect to you know,
being in the room with all the different artists and
those friendships and sitting next to these people all week
and long, you know, chatting. It's yeah, absolutely, that's always
very great.
Speaker 4 (25:10):
And like the shows are sometimes a long game too, right,
so like people are walking. I mean, yes, you create
all those friendships and all of those and that's lovely,
right and the immediate, but looking down the line, it's
like the people that are like snapping the photo of
the for their bedroom that they're going to do in
a year, you know, and it's like that's interesting, but
it is.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
It is straight exhausting.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
Oh it is. And I do consider myself an introvert and.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Social social batteries probably yeah, pretty well.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
But by the end of that weekend, my face hurts
from the frozen smile on your face. You know, you're
just you're like cotton mouth from like talking so much,
and just during I mean even though you're just sitting
there all weekend, I feel like I've ran a marathon.
I mean just exhausting. So it does take a lot,
so I haven't done one. I need to do it again.
I've had a friend of mine who's cheering the in
our show next year.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Actually like that's a great show.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
What are you gonna do it? I'm like, hey, gosh,
any promises many months?
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Does that usually take you to prepare for a show
like that?
Speaker 3 (26:12):
So I think it depends on if I'm going to
do you know, more large works and then I mean
there's a variety there, but I think you know, the
small ones obviously are best, and then the very large
So like all the middle ones typically you know kind
of sit a little bit. But I mean it would
take me, I mean months because you're also working on
other things at the same time, so and then you're
(26:33):
just and then that's a lot of money and framing
and everything else, just sitting there like, please let this sell.
I just invested all this time.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
It's a huge investment, thirty.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Pieces of work that may or may not go anywhere.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
Well, Hillary, we always kind of like to end each
podcast with a few final thoughts, and we love to
hear about the beat that keeps you going.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
Oh, my family would be the beat that keeps me going. Honestly,
these crazy three boys that I god has a sense
of humor by giving me three boys. I'm like the
girliest girl on the planet. But I wouldn't have it
any other way. Like all those footsteps and giant heel
walking and screaming throughout my house is just such a
(27:14):
blessed I mean, I know how precious it is to
be a mother after how my journey to be a
mother started, So having the loudness and the noise and
the screaming throughout the house is Honestly, it's this the
beat for sure for me. I feel incredibly blessed by
having this family of mine.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
And finally, what's your perfect boulevard look?
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Like?
Speaker 3 (27:36):
Oh goodness, this is so hard. I honestly, when I
close my eyes and I think about, like where I
would want to be walking down the street, like fall
Tree Colors, a quiet street but still busy, Like I
want silent but busy with strangers, you know, because I like,
in my head, maybe it's intervited me while not talking
(27:58):
with everyone on the streets. I like to imagine you
know their own stories and lives, like we're all the
main characters in our own life. But when you're walking
down a busy street and you just meet someone like
we could be anywhere, but we're in this moment walking
down the street together, and our like paths have crossed,
and we each have our own like stories and lives
unfolding up that same moment, and it's just so fun
(28:19):
to think about where everybody's lives and paths have taken them.
So I like a busy street but quiet in my head.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
You have such an artist's mind and heart.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
That's so.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
Well. Thank you so much, it's been we We love
talking with you and hearing about your story, and you're
so talented, so we appreciate your time doing this.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Oh you're so sweet. Thank you for having me. This
is so fun.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Boulevard Beat.
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow along and leave
a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen
so you never miss an episode, And of course, follow
your host on Instagram at Megan Bloom Interiors, at CHRISA. Rossbund,
and at Leslie Jet. We'll be back next week as
we take a stroll down another boulevard.
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