OIL ON CANVAS MONTANA, USA George Hill (b. 1982-) has always found solace and inspiration in nature. Growing up on the great waters of Michigan, traveling through the wilds of Patagonia as a young man, and now living in Montana, his art takes root in these untamed spaces. Hill was raised by a family of artists and eventually pursued formal education at the University of Michigan’s School of Art and Design. Today his portraits of wild animals attempt to bridge the gap between classicism and modernism in technique and narrative. His oil paintings demonstrate academic proficiency though they are far from traditional. He approaches each work through an abstract lens emphasizing shape and space foremost, followed by modeling and rendering. Each portrayal appears to live and breathe on the canvas, gazing into the viewer’s eyes, seeking connection. With these brushstrokes, Hill addresses the ever-growing interface of modernity and wilderness areas. For the artist, preservation and stewardship of these wild spaces is vital as their presence helps us reconnect with our more primitive selves and the natural harmony of the world. Hill’s larger than life portraiture is an attempt to emote and elicit this consciousness within all of us.