Hillary Scott, who lives and works in northeast Massachusetts, is endlessly inspired by the stunning New England landscapes that surround her. Scott illustrated books for many years before making the transition to landscape painting in 2014. Since then, the artist has continued to develop her skills through a combination of plein air painting and classical techniques, striving to capture a sense of atmosphere, space and time in her work. 
Hillary Scott works on a painting in her Massachusetts studio.
Breakthrough, oil on linen, 24 x 36"
Favorite subjects, she says, involve fleeting light in the early morning or during the golden hour, with favorite locales including Plum Island, Massachusetts, in addition to several wetland areas near her home. Her oil Breakthrough is one such piece. “This painting was inspired by one of my many trips to Plum Island during the golden hour. The clouds that evening were spectacular and the setting sun illuminated the marsh while shimmering on the water,” she recalls. “As I observe a scene I am already considering my composition. Design and values are, without a doubt, the two most important elements that determine the success of any painting.”
Sunset on the Basin, oil on linen, 24 x 30"
Another painting depicting Plum Island is Sunset on the Basin, which brings to life the warmth and beauty of a sunset in bright, vivid pinks and oranges. “There were few clouds that evening, but the sky colors and reflections in the water were captivating,” says Scott. 
A June Afternoon, oil on linen, 20 x 20"
Thick, fluffy cumulus clouds fill the scene in A June Afternoon, a painting that began as a plein air study at one of Scott’s frequent painting locations. “It was the quintessential summer afternoon with my favorite kind of billowing clouds...I knew I had a strong concept if I chose to create a larger studio painting later. I have found these clouds nearly impossible to paint from photos so it was essential to capture the subtle colors and values from life, but
I chose to push the colors a bit on the studio painting,” she says. “The subtle value and hue shifts in the clouds were so challenging that I painted this scene twice before I felt confident moving to the larger size.”
Scott’s picturesque artwork ultimately comes together through a combination of plein air studies, memory and photographic references. —
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