ABOUT THE ARTIST

Sandra Hildreth (1946 – ) is a well recognized American painter of natural landscapes, particularly ones within the Adirondacks. She works in both oil and watercolor, deciding which medium to use as she works “en plein air,” or, in other words, working outdoors, utilizing all of her senses directly in the wild spaces that inspire her. On choosing her subjects, she says, “They don’t have to be identified as true ‘wilderness’ — they just need to have some of the qualities of wilderness — like very little evidence of humanity. Places where nature is dominant, not civilization.” Her style nods to realism, but with a more painterly or less photographic quality. Intrinsically, her work is created with a motivation to share the beauty of these wild spaces and encourage conservation of them. 

Born in Wisconsin in 1946, Hildreth grew up spending time outside and nourishing her love for nature. She was a painting major at Western Kentucky University, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and went on to teach high school art in northern New York for 31 years. From 1990 to 2005, she was an adjunct professor at St. Lawrence University. She now lives in Saranac Lake, NY, where she paints full time, prioritizes being in nature, and welcomes visitors into her home studio. Hildreth continues to participate in plein air festivals across the country and has been the coordinator of the Adirondack Plein Air Festival since 2009. 

Hildreth has participated in over twenty solo exhibitions and numerous group and juried exhibitions across the country. Her work is represented and held in collections and galleries nationwide.

– Research and writing by Eva Yeo, SLU Class of 2023

Note

“About the Artist.” Adirondack Paintings by Sandra Hildreth. Accessed February 20, 2023. https://www.sandrahildreth.com/about