Swansea painter Hilary Porado holds a BA in Studio Art from Wellesley College. She loved painting as a child, but had no thought of majoring in it. In her sophomore year she declared her major in Studio Art after a pilgrimage to the Bahá'í Shrines in Israel.
Ms Porado worked as a graphic artist at United Press International, Newhouse News Service and Maturity News Service. She saw photographers going out to cover assignments while the artists were staying in the office using computers, technical pens and photo references. At Newhouse and Maturity, she developed a cartoon style in computer graphics.
In November 2009, Ms Porado was photographed by The Globe and Mail while painting from a lifeguard's chair at Sunnyside Beach. She was rededicated to painting from life and determined to work like a photographer, but as a painter without using photographs. She would not compete with photographers. Her work would be completely different, gestural, a celebration of paint and canvas, a dance.
Many works sold at galleries, shops, art tours, auctions, and online websites. They decorate homes across Canada and around the world.
Swansea, (detail), oil on canvas panel , 16 x 20 inches
Hilary Porado
Windy Day, oil on canvas, 30 x 60 inches.
Polar Bear in Winter, oil on canvas, 20 x 28"
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