About

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Hello and welcome! I’m Lilly, a self-taught artist and illustrator inspired by the magic of nature.

I paint with gouache and other traditional media to create colorful, finely detailed works of art. My pieces are inspired by the beauty and whimsy of the natural world and the wonder I feel nearly every time I step outside.

I have always had a profound curiosity surrounding the natural world. I grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, spending countless hours as a child immersed in the wooded acres surrounding my home- mapping out trails, collecting bugs, and picking bits of flowers to turn into fairy potions.

This fascination was deepened as I studied to earn my undergraduate degree in Environmental Science in Switzerland and New Zealand. The more I learned about the world around me, the more in love I fell, and the more I felt the need to record the little bits of magic I experienced onto paper.

For me, painting is a way to tangibly capture the moments of joy, wonder, and pure awe life on this planet has brought me: mountains glowing pink as the light shifts at sunset, realizing the vastness of an open sky, the fresh smell of country air when you open your window first thing on a cool morning, light shining through the petal of a flower. With my work, I invite others to chase those feelings and to step into these magical worlds. I hope my paintings inspire others to protect and connect with the natural spaces around them.

I am currently based in Chicago, where I work from my at-home studio. You can find me selling in person at markets and fairs around the city and suburbs. When I’m not painting, I love to spend time exploring the outdoors and getting to know the ecosystems around where I live.

 

See more of my artwork on Instagram

 
✨the cascades✨ virginia has so many beautiful waterfalls and I want to paint them all 🌿🍄 these falls are along the cascades trail in giles county, which is one of my favorite trails in the state. the trail follows along a cascading mountain stre
do you prefer the mountains or the sea? 🏔🌊 I tend to feel more at home in the mountains, maybe because I’ve almost always lived among them. I grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, went to university in Switzerland and New Zealand, and up unti
✨the road to home✨ this was one of the very first gouache paintings I ever made, around one year ago. I have a bit of a sentimental attachment to this one- the view is just around the corner from the house I grew up in in the blue ridge mountains ?
would you take a nap next to this peaceful garden stream?🌿 this is one of my favorite paintings from this year that I painted back in January! I just love the rushing water and the vibrant color of the maple leaves🍃🍁🪨🎍 I’ll likely be sha