Today we’d like to introduce you to Margie Hildreth.
Hi Margie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I have always been interested in art, even as a young child. My first commission was when I was in 6th grade. I was paid to draw and color simple reading books for first-grade students to use to learn to read. I continued my love for drawing through high school. After a career with the federal government and then running my own private investigation firm, I began to paint with watercolors. About a year and a half ago I decided to become a full-time artist. I have studied with some of the top watercolorists in the country.
I like painting in the studio as well as en plein air (outside). I am a member of the Rattlesnake Gang. A group of artists that travel from all parts of the United States to paint in Big Bend National Park each year. I was the first woman invited to join the group and I jumped at the chance to represent. I am a signature member of the Texas Watercolor Society, an associate member of the Women Artists of the West, the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. I am currently represented by Art Gallery Prudencia in San Antonio.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Learning to paint while running my own business was definitely a challenge. When learning to paint the most important thing to do is paint every day and sometimes it is just not possible.
I had to decide to make it a priority if I wanted to advance in my painting. I had to finally make the decision to close my business in order to focus completely on my art. It has been a sacrifice but one I have never regretted.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a watercolorist, I have always been drawn to the rugged landscapes and rolling hills of Texas. I’m always on the lookout for a dramatic sunset or an interesting view wherever I go. I have painted throughout the United States, France, Italy, and Spain. Watercolor is a study of letting go of control in order for it to be at its best. It moves and blends on paper in a magical way. As an artist, I want to show the way dappled light falls across a hill or the way the sky looks pink just as the sun is rising early in the morning.
It’s these moments that I want to capture. Places that people drive by every day without a thought. I want to say, “Hey, stop and take a look at this.” I often use vibrant colors to show the contrast between light and shadows. I also like to drop in unexpected colors or spatter paint to evoke a sense of fun in my paintings. I’m having fun doing what I love and I want the viewer to have fun too.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
My artist friends would be surprised to know that I worked for the FBI.
I worked on money laundering and drug trafficking investigations. As a private investigator, I worked on many types of investigations; employee theft, missing persons, surveillance, sexual harassment, and fraud investigations.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.margiehildrethfineart.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/margiehildreth
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/margie.hildreth.1
