Ria is a self-taught pastel and oil painter who was born in The Netherlands, raised in New York and
presently living in rural Massachusetts.
She joined the "daily painting" movement on the web in September of 2006. As a result she has been creating small affordable pastel paintings ever since. Although Ria paints daily she does not always complete a work each day.
Her work can be found in private collections throughout the United States. She has 25 years of professional experience in graphic design and as a fine artist.
"Ria Hills, our
Artist of the Month for November 2006, is a pastel painter who
celebrates the quiet loveliness of
the ordinary. “Some of my paintings have been inspired by a dream, a
song, or sometimes a single word,” she explains. “A few months ago I
started painting a
5”-x-7” work every day. These paintings are mostly inspired by small,
common objects.” These works—of a cup of coffee, a baseball, a broken
egg, or a marble, for
instance—all speak of Hills’ fascination with light." (read more) ~American Artist Magazine
Affiliations:
Connecticut Pastel Society
Blackstone Valley Art Association
RECENT EXHIBITIONS & AWARDS
(2008) Blackstone Valley Art Association Spring Show
- First Place and Honorable Mention awards
(2008) Connecticut Pastel Society's member show - Jack Richeson Award
(2007) Connecticut Pastel Society's member show
(2005) Connecticut Pastel Society's Renaissance in Pastels
juried exhibition, Norwich, CT
(2005) 6th International Juried Exhibition, River Tree Center for
the Arts, Kennebunk, Maine
(2004-2005) Zullo Gallery Exhibit #75 (4 person show)
Medfield, MA
(2004) Finalist in the ARTROM.com "No Limit 2004" juried competition
(2004) Hopedale, MA "Day in the Park" competition, Purchase prize
award, first place pastel
(2004) Franklin, MA Art Association's 2004 Exhibit, Honorable Mention
(2003) Uxbridge, MA - The 45th Annual Art Show of the Blackstone
Valley Art Association
first place, third place
(2002) Millworks Gallery, Uxbride, MA "Where We are Now" - Artistic
Reflections of the
Post September 11th World - video
compilation/presentation
(2001) Uxbridge, MA Artists and Artisans Show
(1992) Hopedale, MA Fine Arts Festival, second place in mixed media
~Private collections throughout the US
