Meet Hilary Archer

Wildlife Artist & Bird Lover

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We are so happy to officially put into writing our collaboration with Hilary Archer. An amazing Jamestown-based artist who has joined our Artist Program here at Crestar. Hilary has 3 Limited Edition print offerings being held on our shop -- both framed & unframed options are available with signed certificate of authenticity included with every purchase.

 

The Program

Recently, our goal has been to bring some life to our online store. To do that we decided to reach out to a small number of local artists who have scanned their artwork with us and offer them the chance to sell their prints on our shop. In this way, we are hoping to introduce all of you to new artists (and to collecting fine art) while giving artists a way to sell reproductions without having to worry about building their own marketing campaigns. We will be expanding our artist program in the coming months so please stay tuned for all there is to come! 

 

Introducing Hilary

Hilary was one of the first artists we asked when this idea blossomed. We've scanned a few works with her in the past, and she stood out as a kind, highly professional artist who was working hard to get her work out into the world. 

Hilary has a beautiful website. Hosting originals and offering creative artistic services to her clients (See: Commissions Beyond Canvas -- Do you see that gold leaf service?!?!). On top of that, she always seems to be participating in art shows, fundraisers, and other local events. As an artist she goes above and beyond-- going out on photography trips to collect reference materials and visiting natural history museums to observe animals up close.

 

It's clear her hard work pays off. Hilary's animal portraits are incredibly lifelike and yet they are painted as though the animals are fine jewels; with much attention given to the way color shifts on her subjects and how the eyes sparkle. 

 

 

When it was time to decide how to present Hilary's prints, we decided to go for two neutral frame options (a black and a white) and one showstopper. For both the Macaw and the Flamingo you'll see that a champagne frame really made the birds pop. For Hilary's sandpipers, though, a modern beach-y grey wood frame was the way to go. 

If you're looking to frame one of these limited editioned prints yourself, no worries, each print is also offered as a stand-alone-print with a mat included.

 

 

Artist Bio: 

Hilary Archer grew up in Southern Connecticut on Long Island Sound, where she first 
developed her love and appreciation for animals, nature and biology. Upon completing her Bachelor’s in French and Art History from Bowdoin College, Hilary returned to her artistic roots and was granted a fellowship to study at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she earned her MFA in Illustration in 2007.

For the early part of her career, Hilary worked as a freelance illustrator for clients such as Weekly Reader, South Magazine, and Caspari in the commercial and trade publishing realms. Most recently, Hilary enhanced her artistic practice by earning a certificate in Natural Science Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design in the spring of 2020.

Hilary’s illustration and fine artwork have been exhibited in Savannah, GA, Metro West Boston, MA, and Fairfield County, CT as well as Lacoste, France. 

Artist Statement: 

I am a fine artist, living and working from my home studio in Jamestown, Rhode Island. Throughout my life, I have always found inspiration in the animal kingdom, with many of my personal and professional pursuits reflecting this draw. In particular, I am fascinated by birds and their unique range of shapes, sizes, personalities and behaviors. 

Birds carry with them such a great deal of meaning - both in terms of what they have to say about their environment as well as what they've come to symbolize to us. They often seem to visit us in moments of joy and grief, as if to bear witness to our human experience and offer light and passage. Birds have also given us blueprints for human inventions that allow us to harness their gifts. My drawings and paintings are an expression of my appreciation for their stories, and the significance of this seemingly ordinary class of animals. My approach to a painting almost always starts through observation in the natural world or environments where animals can be seen in their natural habitat. I love capturing imagery through my own camera lens and bringing a subject to life on canvas or panel, using my photographs as a jumping off point. My goal is to not to duplicate the photograph, but to evoke memories of my own observations and to use my knowledge of color, light, and composition to develop a piece that makes a unique impression. I paint by layering with slow-drying acrylics because of their similarities to oil with less toxicity and a high degree of workability.

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Support Local Artists

Our communities thrive when our artists thrive. That's a big part of what Crestar aims to do regardless of whether they're working in our shop, stopping in to frame a piece for an exhibition, or just visiting for a piece of advice. Take the time to yes peek at the works on our shop page, but also to consider giving these artists a follow on social media. Sometimes even just the moral support from staying connected, showing up to exhibition openings, and asking genuine questions can be worth more than gold.

 

Interested in Scanning & Printing with Us?

Visit us at 51 Liberty St. East Greenwich R.I. 

OPEN:

Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-5pm

Sat. 10:00am-3pm

Call: (401)885-0300     |     Email: info@crestar.art

Are you an artist client of Crestar looking to be featured on our website & implemented into our marketing network? Contact marketing specialist anya@crestar.art for information on our artist program. Beneficial for artists who already have artwork scanned with us.