Karol Hilker
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Karol Hilker is our featured artist this month. In her second year at FSC, Karol received a BFA in Fine Arts and a BS in Art Education from the University of TN, Knoxville. She currently has nine pieces in FSC's current installation "West Town Beauty," and was one of three FSC artists who created the mural located at 550 N. Union St. in Chicago.
"She has participated in group shows, had one woman shows and won first place for juried shows in the states of CA, AR,TN, KY, VA and IL. Her art work and murals are in private homes and businesses in 21 states....Karol’s work features people in different stages of interaction with life, themselves and others. She uses oils, acrylic, and watercolor, wires and other objects as the painting needs. She creates with layers of paint and other items that create a combination of tension and flow for the viewers. Karol is interested in showing the demands of life on people in her work through the painting's creation." |
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Interview with Karol Hilker:
Was there a pivotal moment when you decided to follow your passion for art?
The pivotal moment for me was when I had to apply to college. I grew up creating and enjoying every art class I could take. My parents supported me with a place to create, materials and lessons. When applying for schools I looked for a major that would get me a "real" career. But my parents encouraged me to follow my talents. During this time my art teacher nominated me for an art education scholarship due to my love of helping other art students. Because of him I was able to get two degrees that I loved. Spending my money and time to get those art degrees was a huge leap of faith in my art and my future.
What kind of consequences, if any, have you experienced in your pursuit of being a working artist?
Because I pursued life as an artist I have explored my inner thoughts, let go of doubt, put the results in God's hands and pushed past when I felt my work was good and tried to make it great. In doing this in my art I have been led to do the same in all areas of my life.
Can you tell us about the process of making your work?
My work starts with journaling and sketching. I have sketchbooks stashed everywhere so I can capture my ideas. In them I work out the size, medium and colors needed. With this process I can focus on what I really want to paint. When I go to the canvas I am already in the middle of the piece. I like to have several pieces going at once so I can keep working as they dry. I start with chalk, then build up thin layers of paint which allows the process to show through. Many pieces will have cuts, sewn areas, beads, wire, flowers, or even dirt worked into the layers. Alternatively I also do small live paintings/sketches that are finished in one sitting. This process is very fast and freeing because they are the opposite of my other work. Both ways of working let me express what is inside.
What obstacles, if any, has Covid 19 presented to your work?
I moved to Chicago in December. In February I was fortunate to find a studio at FSC in time to enjoy live music/painting, be in an art show and even participate in open studio night. While Chicago has been closed due to Covid with the FSC studios I have been able to have an art community, be in my studio, live stream paint with Chicago's finest bands, chalk draw in the community, help paint a mural, participate in art shows and sell my work. I still can't believe I have all this during Covid.
When FSC was doing restaurant sidewalk chalk murals, you told Fox32: "We have to create, it comes out of us." How important is it to you to be able to create during a pandemic?
Being able to create during this time is so important. If I can't create it is destructive for my art and soul. In the past when I couldn't be in my studio I would paint kindness rocks to put out in the world, do plein air paintings and continue sketching in my journals to prepare for future paintings. I had planned to go into these things but due to FSC I have been able to do so much more.
What plays the biggest role in your creative process and/or success as an artist?
There are two things that play a huge role for me as an artist. One, showing up mentally and physically everyday to create with passion. Two, to always include my family in my process. Our lives have always centered around me having a place and materials to create. My husband, John, has encouraged me to use our house as studio space. He usually has only a corner in our house that is not being used by me. He and my children have made canvas/frames, transported art to shows, hung art, moved mural supplies, set up scaffolding and even been made to paint. They accept that everything we own will eventually get paint on it, including them! John also helps me with the struggles of the business side of being an artist. He makes sure I eat, and sleep when I am consumed with my work. I am successful and able to create because of him. But if he tells you a title for a piece of work, always check the label because he gets joy in giving alternative titles to my work.
Was there a pivotal moment when you decided to follow your passion for art?
The pivotal moment for me was when I had to apply to college. I grew up creating and enjoying every art class I could take. My parents supported me with a place to create, materials and lessons. When applying for schools I looked for a major that would get me a "real" career. But my parents encouraged me to follow my talents. During this time my art teacher nominated me for an art education scholarship due to my love of helping other art students. Because of him I was able to get two degrees that I loved. Spending my money and time to get those art degrees was a huge leap of faith in my art and my future.
What kind of consequences, if any, have you experienced in your pursuit of being a working artist?
Because I pursued life as an artist I have explored my inner thoughts, let go of doubt, put the results in God's hands and pushed past when I felt my work was good and tried to make it great. In doing this in my art I have been led to do the same in all areas of my life.
Can you tell us about the process of making your work?
My work starts with journaling and sketching. I have sketchbooks stashed everywhere so I can capture my ideas. In them I work out the size, medium and colors needed. With this process I can focus on what I really want to paint. When I go to the canvas I am already in the middle of the piece. I like to have several pieces going at once so I can keep working as they dry. I start with chalk, then build up thin layers of paint which allows the process to show through. Many pieces will have cuts, sewn areas, beads, wire, flowers, or even dirt worked into the layers. Alternatively I also do small live paintings/sketches that are finished in one sitting. This process is very fast and freeing because they are the opposite of my other work. Both ways of working let me express what is inside.
What obstacles, if any, has Covid 19 presented to your work?
I moved to Chicago in December. In February I was fortunate to find a studio at FSC in time to enjoy live music/painting, be in an art show and even participate in open studio night. While Chicago has been closed due to Covid with the FSC studios I have been able to have an art community, be in my studio, live stream paint with Chicago's finest bands, chalk draw in the community, help paint a mural, participate in art shows and sell my work. I still can't believe I have all this during Covid.
When FSC was doing restaurant sidewalk chalk murals, you told Fox32: "We have to create, it comes out of us." How important is it to you to be able to create during a pandemic?
Being able to create during this time is so important. If I can't create it is destructive for my art and soul. In the past when I couldn't be in my studio I would paint kindness rocks to put out in the world, do plein air paintings and continue sketching in my journals to prepare for future paintings. I had planned to go into these things but due to FSC I have been able to do so much more.
What plays the biggest role in your creative process and/or success as an artist?
There are two things that play a huge role for me as an artist. One, showing up mentally and physically everyday to create with passion. Two, to always include my family in my process. Our lives have always centered around me having a place and materials to create. My husband, John, has encouraged me to use our house as studio space. He usually has only a corner in our house that is not being used by me. He and my children have made canvas/frames, transported art to shows, hung art, moved mural supplies, set up scaffolding and even been made to paint. They accept that everything we own will eventually get paint on it, including them! John also helps me with the struggles of the business side of being an artist. He makes sure I eat, and sleep when I am consumed with my work. I am successful and able to create because of him. But if he tells you a title for a piece of work, always check the label because he gets joy in giving alternative titles to my work.
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Are there moments when you question your career?
I question my career at least once every week. It makes me stronger when I question what I am doing. I hate the feeling but it has continued to happen so I have embraced it. I think as artist we have to always question our choices in our life, our careers and our art. If you could be born in another period of history, when would it be? As a woman artist, I wouldn't want to go back in history. I can't imagine my husband getting credit for my work, not being included in art shows, or being told what I can't paint or should paint. I would like to go forward 100 years and see where we all are. But I will settle for seeing the amazing changes in the next 50 years, if I get to 106! Do you have a favorite book, film or painting, which inspires you? Many paintings have inspired me over the years but when I visited the Salvador Dali museum in Figueres, Spain I was awed by the different mediums he explored and the amount of work he created. It gave me the inspiration to create everything in my head. I also saw Picasso's whole body of work that explored his different mediums and subjects. Seeing their bodies of work freed me to create with renewed passion. What are you looking forward to in 2021? Being in the middle of crowded events...art, music, travel, museums, city streets, all of it. Which I can't believe I am saying because I hated crowds before! As an artist what do hang on to for hope and solace during this time? History has shown we can overcome bad times. I feel artists and musicians are the ones that lift people up and give them the power to move forward. I have loved seeing the creative minds around me bringing hope and joy to us during this time. |
Fulton Street Collective
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