Discovering a love of art from a young age, Hilarie continued to follow her passion throughout her adolescence, leaving university to go to San Francisco and sell her portraits on the streets where she honed her talent.

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Through her adult life she worked in many artistic fields outside of an artist, such as an auctioneer and appraiser. However, at age 55, Hilarie returned to school and graduated with a degree in historic building preservation. After that, she renewed her passion for painting, and since then has been working as an artist. She is self taught, visiting many notable workshops to learn more. 

 

Hilarie works usually from life rather than photographs. Painting in a romantic impressionism style, her pieces include intimate portraits and fairy tale scenes, some with mixed media elements as she balances chaos and order in her pieces to reflect the experience of daily life.