Meet Christine Hyatt | Acrylic and Watercolor Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Hyatt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?

How my work life balance has changed over time.

I am fortunate enough, at the age of 58, to no longer have to have a paying job outside of my home. My husband of 35 years still works full time, and with his encouragement, I am able to have time to pursue the things I love, and what feeds me emotionally. I am grateful and mindful every day for my husband’s support.

Until I was 52, I always had a paying job. I had a degree in childcare and management. I worked in daycare centers and then when my daughter Abigail was born, maintained an in-home daycare for 8 years until my second child, my son Jacob, went to school. I then worked jobs that I could also be available for my two children. My focus in life was to maintain my family and home. Family is the very most important thing to me. Even though we were very happy, there was so much stress trying to keep life balanced, and I wasn’t always very successful.

I have always loved art. I always had a talent and actually come from a family of nine children, where there are multiple artists. For our 5th Wedding Anniversary my husband gave me a gift certificate to take a watercolor session with a local artist. At the time, our children were very young, but in school. I was able to, once a week discover, and now I recognize, a happy place. My art progressed fairly quickly. I got involved with a local co-op gallery. But as my children become more involved with activities, I set my artwork aside. I wasn’t going to miss out and enjoy every minute of seeing my children grow. Now as I look back, I don’t think I really had a work life balance at this point in my life. I was happy and would never change this time in my life, but I definitely gave to more others than I gave to myself.

Over the last 10 years, life has brought with it loss and illness to our family. The loss of my parents, my father suddenly, early in his life and my mother after a very long journey with advanced dementia. My husband was diagnosed with cancer and even though treatable, not curable. My sister, a traumatic brain event that resulted in a long hospitalization. But also in this last 10 years, I picked up a paint brush again and it once again gave me comfort. During this time, with my sister’s illness, I took over caring for her herd of four horses and discovered another happy place, and the best possible therapy on the planet, in my opinion, working with horses.

I had stopped working out of the house during this period and my children were growing into amazing adults and out on their own. With some very challenging life situations and maturing myself, I started seeing life very differently. I had time to reflect on what is truly important in my life. Especially with my husband’s illness and seeing my sister fight back from what could have been a life ending event, I recognize how fragile life is. My family is still the most important thing to me, but I have also included myself as a top priority.

My artwork really took off during Covid. I was asked to do commissions, most being pet portraits. I do more painting for others than I do for myself, but I’ve decided that is what makes me happiest. Seeing the joy or tears my artwork brings to others, is so good for my heart. In addition to painting almost daily, I volunteer at a therapeutic riding center. My work there is caring for the herd of equines that are used in the program, and they help balance me emotionally.

I know now how important work life balance is in my life. I wish I could have realized this earlier in my life, but I believe it has taken some maturity and difficult times, to realize that I am worth the balance. Whether it is painting in my art studio with a view, or mucking a stall next to a pony, recognizing the importance of balance and how happy I am with it, makes me a better artist, wife, mother and human.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

As I mentioned in my earlier question response, I have always loved art and recognized as having talent. My true journey with art started in 2003, when my husband gave me a gift certificate to take the watercolor painting class with the local artist. I fell instantly in love with watercolor painting, especially painting florals. My work was noticed by friends, and I was asked to paint for them. I also got involved in a local art co-op, which exposed me to the business side of art.

I quickly learned I was not good at promoting myself as an artist. I had no confidence in my ability, and I still struggle with that now. I would say this is my biggest challenge. I tried for a time, instead of working a paying job, to try to just sell my artwork. It was a short-lived experiment. It was a very stressful time and one I didn’t feel was worth the stress to continue. Also, art wasn’t enough of a priority at that time for me to give it the attention it needed to be successful. It was about that time that I took a break to focus on raising my family, which now, seeing my children as adults, happy with their incredible life partners, was worth the time I took for that focus.

My interest in art started again after participating in a night at a “paint and sip”, painting my dogs’ portrait. Once again, friends saw my work and wanted their pets painted. I started painting both acrylic and watercolor portraits. This was about 7 years ago and now I have a constant waiting list for a commission to be done.

Another fun part of my artists journey is that I have illustrated two children’s books for a very good friend. Illustrating a children’s book has always been something I’ve wanted to do, and I am so thankful for that opportunity.

I honestly can say I don’t do anything that sets me apart from others. I paint from my heart and my goal is to bring another human happiness or a sweet memory after the loss of a beloved friend. I do love painting the eyes of the animal I am creating, first. I find that the eyes bring out the character and bring to life the portrait. I also find joy in creating watercolor wedding bouquets, again bringing a happy memory to life or giving a personal gift.

I have become a bit more confident in my gift of art, but it still takes restraint to not point out, what I see as a flaw in a completed painting and I think I may not be the only artist that feels this way. I guess I would share with others that my story is not extraordinary, but it is mine. I am grateful for the gift I have been given and that I can share it with others.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

If my best friend was visiting for the week, we would visit all my favorite spots and the first would be my very favorite, my home. I would prepare a homemade meal and we would enjoy it on my deck, looking out over the red rock ridge, as the hummingbirds entertained us. After dinner we would relax, with a glass of wine, enjoying the peace and quiet that surrounds us.

During the week, we’d take a couple of popular hikes, see the Horsetooth Trail waterfalls, look through the keyhole at Devils Backbone. We’d take a day trip to Estes and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Another favorite spot is Old Town Ft. Collins. Brunch at the Silver Grill including a cinnamon roll of course! Lunch at Austin’s Grill. Our trip to Old Town would include shopping at my favorite stores, The Perennial Gardner, Sense of Place and the Cupboard. We would finish up our day with Margaritas and dinner at the Blue Agave. If time, we would try to get up to listen to some music and the Mishawaka in Poudre Canyon.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my husband Evan. Through his constant and unconditional love, support and hard work for our family, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to discover and do what brings my heart and soul joy.

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