Bill Hibberd contemplating the thin places

Bill Hibberd contemplating the thin places Bill is an oil painter searching for the "thin places", where the physical and spiritual worlds rub against each other.

Landscape, seascape, still life and figurative subjects are equitably explored for their beauty. Bill enjoys outdoor adventuring, ocean adventures, pickle ball and of course family times.

Amber Light is off to the 2025 Sooke Fine Arts Show. Whisk me luck!
07/12/2025

Amber Light is off to the 2025 Sooke Fine Arts Show. Whisk me luck!

It’s been an “interesting” year so have not put in much effort updating my social media posts. This is me catching up. “...
06/24/2025

It’s been an “interesting” year so have not put in much effort updating my social media posts. This is me catching up.

“Shady Refuge” is representative of the plethora of intimate resting spots on our southern gulf islands. It’s a familiar scene many of you will recognize. An Arbutus tree reaching out across the sandy or pebbled shore offering a respite from summers midday heat. These are the places I will nose my kayak into for a brief rest from my explorations. This painting was accomplished using my current indirect process. Rather than choosing a hue and a value laying it in opaquely I prefer many transparent glazes. When they are overlain above a bright white gessoed ground a lovely luminous composition can be created. This particular piece feels light and airy. I’m very happy to have experienced the places of inspiration and to have had the opportunity to paint it.
“Shady Refuge” is a 36X72” oil. It is available for purchase but is committed to a rental agreement. Presently displayed at the Green Party head office in the Parliment building in Victoria.

“Rock Garden” was inspired by my hikes around the base of Mt Tzuhalem. Ancient rock slides are now overgrown with rich g...
06/24/2025

“Rock Garden” was inspired by my hikes around the base of Mt Tzuhalem. Ancient rock slides are now overgrown with rich green mosses and ambitious Arbutus trees wind up through the shards searching for light. It’s a magical environment that feels calming even though it’s foundation was created by violence and drama.
This painting is a 40X72” oil.Available for purchase.

“Amber Light” has been juried into this years Sooke Fine Arts Show! I am always pleased to participate in what I believe...
06/24/2025

“Amber Light” has been juried into this years Sooke Fine Arts Show! I am always pleased to participate in what I believe to be the premiere Vancouver Island regional juried exhibition.
This particular painting expresses both the tenacious character of the lovely Arbutus tree as well as the overwhelming warm hues that wash over summer’s daybreak. Recent August skies are typically influenced by woodsmoke caused by forest fires in southern BC. This can create a surreal orange glow that I have tried to capture in this piece.
“Amber Light” is a 40X72” oil. Come see it at this years SFAS.

Good afternoon friends. I don’t often ramble on about my painting process but for anyone interested here are my thoughts...
02/02/2025

Good afternoon friends. I don’t often ramble on about my painting process but for anyone interested here are my thoughts. I am inspired by the “ thin places” that nature offers up to me. Once I land on a particular scene, character or feeling I will spend time with it asking myself what speaks to me and how will I attempt to respond to this inspiration.
On the eastern slopes of Mt Tzuhalem just above Genoa bay there is this amazing area, the steep shoulders of the mountain are awash in large boulders that have tumbled to their base many years ago. After a millennia they are now blanketed in carpets of various mosses creating a spectaculnar rock garden that would be the envy of any landscape designer. Under a canopy of Madrona and Oak rich green hues dominate with hints of red and violet in the trees and rock shards.
For my large studio painting I want to capture the splendour of place . I don’t want over simplify my subjects but of course I can only capture a small portion of the incredible variety of textures, hues and values. I begin with a developed composition. Once I am satisfied with the base drawing I begin to lay in a first layer of transparent oil paint. I should mention that I have prepared my canvas with several coats of the brightest white gesso I can find. The white ground will allow for a luminous finish. I slowly build up layers of different colours Until I achieve a satisfying value and colour. If I only use transparent colours the light will travel through the layers of paint and will reflect the light of the white ground back through to the viewers eyes. This gives the painting a rich luminous and ambiguous effect that I love. Usually this will add up to 10 or 12 layers.
In the past I have painted with opaque highly impasto paint. The finished piece is set , it never changes. I feel there is more mystery to my current process. The transparent paint gifts me opportunities for variety of effects. My collectors often tell me that they see many new colours and shapes as they live with these work S over the years.
So at this stage I have my drawing set and have laid in one layer of paint as well as some darker features. Tomorrow I will lay in another colour and so on……

Contemplating the finish of “Amber Light”, 40x72” oil
01/13/2025

Contemplating the finish of “Amber Light”, 40x72” oil

We had a visit from royalty today
10/15/2024

We had a visit from royalty today

09/04/2024

Now available at the Art Gallery ofGreater Victoria.

Address

1050 College Street
Duncan, BC
V9L2E7

Telephone

+12507482838

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