Artists In Nashville

Nancy Hilgert draws fine art. She’s been drawing since she was a little girl, growing up in Northern Virginia. Nancy’s primary instruments are graphite, charcoal and colored pencils. Her subjects range from figures to flora and fauna to architecture, and some abstract work thrown in for good measure.

Nancy grew up loving the outdoors. A typical day included skates, bicycles, tree houses and horseback riding. As a young girl she drew the things she loved surrounding her – farm structures, horses and landscapes. Years later, as a Fine Art major in the Art and Architecture Department of The University of Tennessee in Knoxville, she studied watercolor, figure drawing, sculpture, cinematography, several forms of print making and mixed media. She completed her college studies with a double major in Studio Art and Drawing, minors in Intaglio and Art History.

Nancy’s career path has taken her from creating billboards to publishing fulfillment, pharmaceuticals, corporate VP and finally – for reasons of physical and mental health – starting her own farm. For sixteen years Nancy built a business around an equestrian facility right here in Nashville – teaching and consulting buyers, caring for horses and tending to 100 acres of land. It was this pursuit that eventually brought Nancy back to art – or maybe better said, it brought art back to Nancy. In 2004 Nancy was called to switch gears once again, this time turning away from the horses in favor of art.

Nancy’s current inspirations include the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Northern California and Oregon coasts. The mountain trails, cabins, wildlife and flora have provided new inspiration for her work.

“Kitchen Window” and “Under the School House” from The Smokies Series won first and third prize respectively in the Drawing Division at Kingston Spring’s Art in the Park in October, 2010.

We recently asked Nancy to answer a few questions for us. Read on:

When and where are you happiest?

I'm happiest outside! I love trees, hiking, the Pacific Ocean, rocks and flowers - this is a long list. Obviously, I love nature. In terms of places I'm happiest, the Oregon Coast and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Describe a real-life situation that inspired you?

My trip to Oregon a year ago, touring the coast and the Willamette Valley was thoroughly inspirational. Being near the ocean, hiking through the redwoods and big spruce, photographing lighthouses was immensely inspiring. I visited a coop gallery Old Florence and met one of the artist members who gives creative spirit workshops. It was really fun and enlightening. I work to continually meet new artists, visit new galleries and view art of all kinds.

Who has most inspired you in your life?

This is also a long list! I love several masters long gone, like Leonardo da Vinci, Michealangelo and Klimt, but I have to add some of my art school professors, as well as J.D. Hillberry, a superior contemporary graphite artist.

What memorable responses have you had to your work?

When I do art festivals, the most enjoyable part is the consistent inquiries about how I do what I do. Yes, it's very realistic, but I love that they always ask about the execution. The most frequent question is "how do you have that much patience?" This is always amusing to me, because there is no patience involved for me. I just do what I do, however long it takes to get what I want in an image. Time just passes.

What is your dream project?

That would be a mandala that I've designed with a double overlapping frame, two layers of glass, two separate drawings, that make three images. More on that when it's complete!

Where is your favorite or most inspirational place Nashville?

I love The Frist Center, Percy and Edwin Warner Parks and Bowie Nature Park in Williamson County.

Where would you like to be professionally in five years?

In five years, I plan to have representation in three excellent galleries, anywhere in the U.S., and working on my craft full time. I've made significant progress in the last year, with lots happening this year as a result of diligence.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

DO WHAT YOU LOVE! In all things, follow your heart, know what you want and do it.

What are you working on now?

I have two series I adore and create in presently. "Ocean Things" inspired by found pebbles, coral, sand dollar and starfish from the Pacific, and "The Smokies Series" that is my longest running collection. I will continue to work in both of these subjects for a long time, because I'm so passionate about them.

What have you stolen/learned from another artist lately?

Can't say that I've really done that. I love to look at the work of others and see where parts of what they do that I like can be evolved to improve what I currently do.

What is one thing you can share with other artists in our group now? (piece of advice, favorite supplier resource, professional development opportunity/resource)

Again I would say do what you love - don't fall pray to fads or trying to create what you think is selling. That never works. Buy "Starving" to Successful by J. Jason Horejs if you are serious about progress in your career and certainly if you want to get into galleries. Do workshops, be searchable, and most of all, continually build a body of work.

------

Nancy Hilgert is a member of the Arts Council of Williamson County, the Tennessee Art League and Artists In Nashville. She is a juried artist with the Tennessee Artisans Market at The Renaissance Center in Dickson, Tennessee. Her work is available online at her website, www.FineArtbyNancyHilgert.com and www.XanaduGallery.com. You may also find her work March 7th through June 3, at the Chromatics Second Floor Gallery Show, "in the biz 2.0", artists reception March 24th, 6 - 8 PM.