2022 Goal: February - Woven

February 27, 2022 by Jessica Hills

February’s piece came together faster than I thought it would. I had to give myself weeks away from it to decide it was complete. This piece is inspired by the song “Woven into Sorrow” by Swallow the Sun.

Song Link

I would say the album Moonflowers was my favorite album of 2022. Additionally, the band was my first concert in over two years. It was small and not crowded; it felt safe and familiar to be back at a venue to listen to a band I love. “Woven into Sorrow” was the first single, and I listened to it on repeat.

Again, this painting started out with different intentions. I let the materials guide me. I am finding by doing this, I am letting go. I focused on the colors inspired from the album and the music videos. I wanted to use yarn and tissue paper. I almost used petals, but it felt wrong. Not for this piece.

I have an idea already for March. We’ll see how much that one sticks to the plan.

Note: I started drafting this post a week ago. I’m debating changing my March piece. My heart hurts for Ukraine. Maybe, I do a separate painting to process my thoughts.

Currently Watching: Raised by Wolves, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Currently Reading: Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey (hope to finish soon)

2022 Goal: January - Lacquer

February 01, 2022 by Jessica Hills

Despite a wave of sicknesses in my household (COVID, stomach bugs), I managed to complete my first painting for this project.

Song Link

I chose the song “Lacquer” by Katatonia (album City Burials) for the first song. The lyrics, “the road to the grave is as straight as an arrow”, are so powerful to me. My goal though was to capture a spirit and my own interpretation of how I feel. This came together quicker than I expected, and I let myself go as well. The hint of a crow foot on the heart happened by accident. The pile of grays, white, and black at the bottom can be your own ideas: is it ashes? a grave? a blurry road?

I initially had a different idea for the painting, but this is how it came together. I scrapped on paint and removed, a background of tissue paper to give texture. It’s simple and gives me the same feelings I have with the song, and I think I captured it’s heart - at least what it is for me.

Currently Watching: Gentefied

Currenting Reading: Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey

Currently Listening: Darkher - Lowly Weep

A Re-Introduction and a Goal

January 02, 2022 by Jessica Hills

Goodbye 2021, Hello 2022

My name is Jessica. I’m a partner, a mother, a reluctant leader, and an artist (that’s why I have this neglected website). I’ve been painting since I was kid, have a degree for it from a small college, but it’s not my career - it can’t be. The decision to not become an art teacher or attend grad school set me on a different path. In that path, I learned about a different side of myself, found stability, and maintained my passion.

In 2019, I made the goal to complete 52 paintings no matter how great or bad they were, one each week. I did that (while pregnant most of the year).

The last two years were a lot of growth. It has not been easy to become a parent in the midst of a pandemic, but there is a lot of love, a lot of inspiration. Parenthood should not prevent passions. It’s hard, but it can work. In a way, I’ve been more productive because my time to create is so limited, more pours out when I have the chance.

Thus, I decided to try another artistic challenge/goal:

The Heart of a Song: 12 paintings, one per month, each inspired by a song, featuring a heart.

I also hope to update this website once a month on the progress, twice if it includes adding the finished piece. I also want to update the paintings I’ve completed in the last few years as well.

I don’t know if I can maintain this goal, this website, this blog…. but I want to try, trying is the goal.

Thanks 2022, may you be kinder, gentler, and full of love and inspiration.

Currently Watching: Season 3 of Pose, Season 6 of The Expanse

Currently Reading: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Currently Listening: Katatonia’s album “Mnemosynean”

Thoughtful Thursday: 52 Paintings

April 01, 2021 by Jessica Hills

Back in 2019 I decided to do a project called 52 Paintings: one painting a week, with some guidelines. I planned to blog about each piece, like at this blog entry: Thoughtful Tuesday: 52 Paintings - #1. Well, that didn’t happen. However, I’m pleased to say I followed through with it, posting one painting a week on my Instagram. Then you see, 2020 happened: new mom, stressful situations occurred after, then as we all know, pandemic.

It’s taken time, but I’m pleased to say I have a page now dedicated to this project: 52 Paintings. Check it out!

Maybe as I get back into blogging I do take a stroll down memory lane to discuss the inspiration for these paintings, even redoing that first entry? Memory Monday?

I still have many things to update, many questions to ask myself as an artist, but one thing is for sure as of now: becoming a mom has not impacted my creativity. If anything, my paintings have become stronger and more adventurous. As proof, I’ll be creating a new page for artwork from the last year. I’m excited to see what comes next.

Currently Listening: Where the Gloom Becomes Sound album by Tribulation.

Currently Watching: Babylon 5