I’m Hillery Lay and I’m a mixed media artist living in Eastern Oregon. I use a variety of mediums, spaces, and symbol markers to add depth to my painting practice. I create artwork rooted in my place and my people. Blending nature with human figures and abstracting both elements allows me to tell the story of my contemporary rural life.
“There are pauses in life that are special. Small everyday moments spark the desire in me to record those pieces of my life. I trim slices from those times and work to find their depth. My thoughts change as my life happens around these paintings. A small history develops, I react to what I’ve just done, bouncing through connections trying to catch the emotion of a place in time. Each layer in the work is a time to linger, tune in, and place my visual stepping stones. Over time, taken out of context, I’m far removed from the real life moment I enjoyed, yet I gather myself again in the abstract space of my painting practice. I take the time to look and hunt out the light inside the people and animals around me. Every step in the process gives me a deep sense of appreciation for the way I live. To see what is special around me, to actively look for it, and to chase the changing visual emotions, moods, and feelings with my artwork is one of the simple pleasures of my life.”
