Skip Hill

Love Garden Party (Cocktails sur L’Herbe) by Skip Hill

Oklahoma-based artist Skip Hill grew up with lots of movement and transitions. As a child, he never felt like he had a sense of home because his father's military career required his family to move frequently. Hill was always searching for a sense of place until he finally began creating art.

Growing up, Hill had limited exposure to diverse art. The family did not frequent museums, galleries, or artist exhibitions but Hill was always drawing and searching for ways to hone his skills. He recalls attending an art camp down the street from his grandmother's house at the age of eight. The instructor tasked the children with drawing a poster of famous artwork. Hill chose Vincent Van Gogh's "The Bedroom in Arles." "In my innocence, I picked one of the most sensitive and thoughtful artists that resonated with millions, and it resonated with me," says Hill. Fatefully, years later, his artistic journey would lead him to live in Van Gogh's birth country and stand before the original work he recreated as a child.

As a teen, Hill grew to love politics and comic strips. Gary Trudeau's Doonesbury and Charles Schulz's Peanuts were two of his favorite strips. By the time he was in high school, he was drawing political cartoons and dreaming of working for Disney or Marvel as an artist. Hill had a few opportunities to further his art studies however, when he reached his 20’s, he entered the world of advertising and landed a prestigious Art Director position. But the flashy world of selling soon lost its luster after one fateful day while working on a McDonald's Happy Meal commercial. Hill realized that using his talents to help corporations sell did not feel authentic or meaningful.

Hill departed the advertising world and sought a life change through travel. First, he moved to Southern California, where he free-lanced as a graphic designer. Next, he traveled to Thailand, where he began working for a business magazine in Bangkok. Following his heart and not someone else's instructions helped Hill get closer to what felt authentically "him." "I immersed myself in a life that was unfamiliar, and it opened up something in me," says Hill. After Thailand, Hill moved to the Netherlands. He visited museums and frequently traveled throughout Europe. And each new experience fed his soul, helped cultivate his voice, and inspired him to make meaningful artwork.

After five years of being away from his family, Hill felt homesick. He returned to the United States to reconnect with his family and recalls that it was a significant point in his life. His mother and father divorced when he was young, so he did not spend much time with his father. But despite the distance, his dad was his biggest supporter and often sent him art supplies and books on art. Hill recalls that his father introduced him to the artwork of a Black American painter named Jacob Lawrence. "Learning about a successful Black artist helped me feel validated. It showed me that people who look like me are creative and successful," says Hill. His father's encouragement and time with him helped Hill remain focused on his art. His father passed away several years later. Hill says, "I still hear his voice, and he would be thrilled with what I've done and am doing."

Love Garden Party (Blue Shades) by Skip Hill

Hill is one of the newest consigned artists with the 1515 Lincoln Gallery. He was seeking a new venue for his work and met with 1515 Lincoln Gallery owner Susan McCalmont to discuss the possibilities. Hill says, "The degree of respect Susan has for artists was apparent from our first meeting." Hill felt he could start a new chapter by having a new gallery and relationship with someone he sees as a friend. "I love how Susan brings artists together to connect, discuss, collaborate, and create community. It is a big thing for us artists." Community is something that Hill greatly values. He's participated in several artist residencies and finds time to work with kids. He says, "Once I start doing my magic, these kids come to life and buy into the magic." Hill believes it is unfortunate that schools are cutting many art programs because art activates a curiosity essential to finding a voice that is often unheard.

Hill did not have many opportunities for in-depth art education in school, so life experience became his school, and his curiosity kept him searching for more meaning. He says, "There are many paths to creating art, and I believe you must find your path and blaze your trail." He believes it essential for artists to discover why they create and clarify what they want to say.

Art has helped Hill find his authentic voice and the sense of place he sought as a child. But it has not been a linear path. How Hill designed his life is much like his creative process. He says, "The key to my approach is a collage. I lay down my materials, pull different elements from different sources, and bring together distinct features that connect them all, so they are seamless." For Hill, the biggest challenge is bringing different elements together in a cohesive lyrical environment. However, this challenge is what he loves because making everything work pushes you to find connections to everything.  

Hill's artistic path is a collage of experiences he has spent his whole life making sense of and tying together into stunning works of art. Now he wants to expand what he's learned and experienced in everything he creates. "I finally understand what it is in me, and now I want to explore how to communicate it all," says Hill. He is excited to immerse himself in the 1515 Lincoln Gallery community, broadening his audience reach and continuing the development of the work. Please visit the 1515 Lincoln Gallery website to learn more about Skip and view his paintings available for purchase.