Andreas artist to compete in Italy

"Art is not for the faint of heart."

That statement was made by Hilary J. England, an enthusiastic artist who appreciates all forms of art, but whose own work and mind is solidly rooted in reality.

England's first memories are of her drawing and, her first job, at age 8, was painting flowers for a local store.

So, it's no surprise that in her life, art is first and foremost.

"It's the thing I love, even if I didn't make a penny I'd still do it," says England. But "As much as the Beatles say you can live on love, the grocery store doesn't take love. You want security with what you do." England is not only a gifted artist she's also a smart business woman.

As most artists know, security and art are not usually synonymous. She recounts the years when as a single parent she was so pre-occupied raising her three children and working, she had to put her art on hold.

"I became so angry at one point about not being able to put my time into art, that I didn't do it at all. Instead, I started to write creative non-fiction, but I still wanted to paint."

When she and her husband decided to open the Alexander Benjamin House Bed and Breakfast in Andreas several years ago, she took a very aggressive marketing approach, which turned the bed and breakfast into the successful venture it is today. The success of the bed and breakfast affords England the luxury of spending all of her days creating in her studio. She has arrived at that balance of security and art that she always wanted.

Her art is infused with reality.

"I don't feel comfortable with abstraction. I don't like to lose myself in the idea. There's gratification in seeing the connection between my conscience and my sub-conscience."

Each artist has a point of view and each piece of art reflects that view. England said she sees herself as an "average Joe," who doesn't take a bird's eye view that excludes everyone else. "I want to make a historical statement of what I've seen."

That's why she doesn't like to paint from photographs. She explains that preparing to paint can be as simple as drawing on an idea she has or as complex as gluing things together in many directions with many dimensions.

Although her paintings are reality based, she's not a slave to that art form. Her art reflects her mind's images.

"If you want a picture," she said, "then take a picture. I'm living in my world and that's what it looks like in my world."

Apparently, liking what's in her world has gained international recognition. England was invited to compete in The Florence Biennale in Florence, Italy, which is an honor. Artists are chosen based on a selection process that starts over one year prior to the Biennale. They are invited based on artwork that communicates talent and cultural value.

"I'm happy to go to Florence to represent the United States," says England.

None of the artwork is for sale, so there is no monetary award. Unlike European invitees, England is not sponsored by the U.S. and must pay her own way. However, she said she is happy to go because it's an exchange of ideas and ideals, an experience England is looking forward to.

She explains that Europeans have a different relationship with art than Americans have.

"I've exhibited in Europe before and it's a different experience. The Europeans are saturated in (art.) They have an obsession with art."

England thinks that Europeans also have a greater appreciation for classical art than Americans have.

Because England is not a fan of any "ism," being invited to compete in the Florence Biennale art exhibition is in perfect harmony with her artistic views. The Florence Biennale was founded in 1997 and is partly based on a philosophy that the old assumptions about art are no longer valid.

The "isms," such as romanticism and classicism have been collapsing since the 90s. Art is coming alive and going in a new direction that values diversity. England also wants the "isms," to go away.

"Isms," England says, "are such a separating, polarizing thing."

England believes that in order to be a great artist you must know the basics. It takes years to find your niche.

"I had an intern and I told her you must learn to walk before you run. You need to learn the craft." She believes that being an artist is being a craftsman.

"When you're approaching solid institutions as a professional, they are looking for people who know what they are doing. They see the truth."

She took her intern on a field trip to do plein-air painting, where you pack a lunch and paint from life. England laughs as she tells of her intern's surprise. The intern thought that England spent all of her time in her studio, "holed up and doing crazy stuff." An image many people have of an artist.

England spends most of her time in her studio, a former garage adjacent to the bed and breakfast. She and her husband, Mark, sort of "fixed it up." Her husband offered to replace the rough wood planks with dry wall and upgrade the cement floor. But the rustic wood walls, high ceilings and cement floor suit England's artist soul just fine. She wants to be able to spill a jar of turpentine and not worry about ruining the floor.

"I love my high ceilings, they will accommodate my new easel," she said with a smile. "The wood burning stove is warm enough to lure out a barn mouse, who shares the studio space with me." The environment complements England's simple sophistication and natural grace.

Although, truly an accomplished artist, England also has a social conscience that she portrays through her art. On England's easel is a contemporary picture of a young girl, lounging on the sofa with a cigarette. England's paintings capture the lives of young women today.

So many young women seem lost to her. They lack structure and direction. England believes that what these woman need in order to see the worth and value in their lives is love. She becomes animated talking about the lives of young women and her hope that all of this youth and energy can be steered in a positive direction.

When asked what she hopes her art will accomplish, she said, "My greatest ambition as an artist is to leave behind a coherent body of work that communicated the ideals, and principle/historical issues I felt were urgent at the time; issues I feel are pertinent enough to need a persistent and consistent redressing over the passage of time.

"I hope my artwork will call awareness to the questions and concerns I may have raised by my work. If I can do that; if I can make an impact of that magnitude, that would be 'my great American novel,'" she adds.

"I suppose other artists have their own 'big dream' of what their ideals of a successful career would be, but to me, that is my ultimate ambition."

What more can be said?

To learn more about England, visit her website at www.fieldsendart.com.