By Rachael Lindley
Photography by Crystal Wise
For Fort Worth artist Hillary Dewing, creativity isn’t something she discovered — it’s something she always had.
Dewing grew up in a household that encouraged creative pursuits. Her father was a photographer who shaped her view of art and pushed her into teaching art to others.
“I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember,” she says, recalling her earliest memories in elementary school art rooms.
A Lifelong Dialogue with Paint
While she began with acrylics, Dewing’s artistic trajectory changed during her first oil painting class at Baylor University.
“I was instantly hooked,” she says. “Oil paint has so much depth and transparency that it brings life into a piece.”
It was in that same class that she also discovered her affinity for landscapes.
“I typically paint landscapes quickly and with a lot of movement,” she says. “I remember my professor watching my brush and saying, ‘You’re on to something there. Keep going!’”
Still, Dewing finds herself equally drawn to acrylics for their freedom and flexibility.
“There are aspects of acrylic paint that allow for more experimentation, which is why I love them for abstracts,” she explains.
This balance between control and spontaneity, between realism and play, has come to define her evolving aesthetic.
A Teacher’s Heart
Before devoting herself entirely to her studio practice, Dewing spent a decade teaching art to children. “I’ve always loved working with and teaching children,” she says. “Seeing them find their confidence, strength, and creativity through art was so inspiring.”
Her journey began in an unexpected place: a high school teaching internship that led her to study education at Baylor. But when she realized she wanted to merge her love of art with teaching, she shifted course to earn a degree in art instead.
“I dove headfirst into an art degree and absolutely loved it,” she says. “In the back of my mind, I always wanted to combine both education and art.”
She went on to teach at a fine arts school for eight years — an experience that still shapes the patient rhythm of her studio process.
Layers of Life and Color
Dewing’s creative process mirrors the meditative nature of her subject matter.
“My process is usually pretty simple. I begin with a rough sketch and then layers and layers of paint,” she says. “I don’t always like to plan the whole painting out, because it often evolves into something better than I could’ve planned.”
Her work is deeply personal, reflecting the ebbs and flows of her inner world. “The tone and subject matter directly reflect how I’m feeling at the time,” she explains. “I often use painting to process my emotions. It’s very therapeutic for me.”
The Palette of Motherhood
Motherhood, Dewing says, changed everything. “Becoming a mother is my favorite job yet, and it has definitely changed my work,” she says, smiling. “Life now is more vibrant, meaningful, playful, but also beautifully messy.”
Her husband even noticed the transformation: “He told me he could tell when I became a mom because I started using more color.”
Now, painting has become a shared joy. “My daughter has her own easel next to mine with her own set of paints,” Dewing says. “Being able to create side by side is the most special gift.”
Looking Ahead
Currently, Dewing is exploring the intersection of abstract and realism, two styles she loves for different reasons.
“I’m blending the skill work of realism with the playfulness of abstract,” she says. “I’m very excited about what happens when you put the two together.”
Her work, much like her journey, is a study in contrasts — discipline and freedom, patience and play, reflection and growth. Each brushstroke feels like a meditation on how art, much like motherhood, can expand one’s sense of self.
To explore Hillary Dewing’s work, visit hillarydewingart.com or follow her on Instagram @hillarydewingart.