Artist’s Statement
I am a Multi-media fine artist who responds to the subject in its tactility: the way it feels to touch, to look at and even to smell. My media may be traditional such as oil paint, oil pastel, aquarelle pencil or charcoal, or it may be mediums such as dye created from local butternuts or walnuts, or chunks of burnt wood (natural charcoal) that provide a subtle colour and history from the object that it once was. I also work with textiles as art forms: photography on fabric which is worked up into 3-dimensional quilts, embellished with needlework techniques such as applique and trapunto. I also create 3-dimensional works from silk fibres using my own technique of silk fusion – taking silk fibres and forming them with cellulose paste (wallpaper size). This has led me on to needle felting using silk and other natural fibres to create intricate and life-like land and sea scapes.
I am also inspired by natural wood and indulge in creating functional and non-functional pieces from tree limbs (some have called it “rustic”). My inspiration comes from the environment in which I live, and subjects and events that have significance to my life. The Carolinian forest and man-made buildings of Pelham have offered inspiration, as well as more intimate aspects of my own gardens.
Although I have lived in Canada for 40 years, I was born and raised in the Fiji Islands and have family roots in the Pacific Island of Samoa. We return each summer for rejuvenating visits to the Caribbean and to the Canadian Northland. Resulting works focus on water and life found close to water. I invite you to join me in this journey by visiting my studio on-line or at the Jordan Art Gallery where I have just become a partner artist.
Most sincerely, Greta Hildebrand
As I start to organize the general portfolio into sections you will see the following aspects of my work:
Fossilized Shells , Oil on Canvas, 30″ x 20″ (each painting)
Greta Hildebrand’s Fine Art Studio is a fine art business that provides authentic, fine art for home, office or for staging of model and existing homes. At this time this business is limited to the Niagara Region of Southern Ontario. Artwork may be selected from an existing inventory or be custom produced for the customer. The present paintings of the inventory are designed as stand-alone works, or can be used as groupings of 2 or 3. All artwork is available for reuse or for sale.
Historic Barns and Homes Project
Aquarelle Watercolours, 5.5″ x 8.5″
The Historic Barns and Homes of Fenwick exhibition above was held in the Maple Acre Library in downtown Fenwick during the summer of 2015. The exhibition celebrated the rich farming history of the Fenwick community and aligned with The Town of Pelham’s (Ontario) downtown Fenwick revitalization project. The project also served as a means for information gathering. Residents were invited to contribute any relevant historical information pertaining to the barns or homes in the series. Information will be shared with The Town of Pelham’s Historical Society. Artworks not sold are still available. They are now discounted to $150 which includes framing.
Fabric Artworks
Headstones Art Quilts, each work 27″ x 35″
Fabric has always been an inspiration for me. My quilted artworks begin as stretched paintings, then move to a second stage where they are transformed into 3-dimensional pieces. I frequently incorporate embroidery techniques such as trapunto and applique to enhance specific areas. Paint, dye and charcoal are applied during this phase of the work to add more dimension to the work.
Sculpture
I have taken my work into a 3-dimensional realm. Past works have explored the use of paper, much of which is handmade using organic components. Recent works have explored the use of silk fibre. This is applied to the exterior of built forms where specific glues are used to solidify the silk, in much the same way that a silk worm works to create a silk cocoon. The result is something that appears delicate but is extremely sturdy.
Furniture
I am passionate about wood, specifically branches that suggest sculptural or utilitarian forms. I build rustic furniture from hardwoods including fruit trees and maple – whatever I can get my hands on. Each project dictates whether it will be completed with the bark remaining, or with the bark removed. I use a mortice and tenon joining technique when I can, or screws for more difficult joins.
My furniture can be taken out to a sheltered porch or patio during the summer, but should be kept dry indoors during the winter. Wax or furniture oil is all that they require once or twice a year to maintain a beautiful, natural patina.