Darrell Hill

Contemporary American Painter

What do old drive-ins, double decker hamburgers, bacon and eggs, strawberry shortcake, and old classic cars have in common? These are just a few subjects that interest young photo-realist artist, Darrell Hill.

"I paint what I like," he says, "old drive-ins and food are some of my favorite things."

Born in 1959, and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, Hill combs that part of the country in search of unique drive-ins from the '50's. Also fascinated with classic cars, he often combines the two for a nostalgic glimpse into yesteryear. He admits, "I didn't think anybody else would like this stuff.?  According to Linda Moore, manager at Valley National Bank in Phoenix, which houses nine of his paintings, he is very wrong, "Customers are constantly trying to buy them off the wall."

Hill was raised in an artistic family and began to show talent at an early age. While in high school, he was a Blue Ribbon Finalist in the Phoenix/Scottsdale region. In 1979 he won first prize at the Fountain Hills Art Festival. That same year his painting, "Ranch House Drive-In", won second place at the Arizona State Fair. It was this success that led the bank's curator to purchase his works for its Metrocenter Branch which needed a vibrant and contemporary art form. Other corporations have also found Hill's work an added attraction in their lobbies and public spaces.

His vivid depictions which are painted in oil with thick brush strokes, are warm with color. The style is a mixture of photo-realism and pop art. Indeed his paintings of food look almost good enough to eat! More recently he has been experimenting with reflections of images, selecting everyday objects such as mirrors, toasters, and chrome coffee pots for his subject matter. The reflections are distorted by the surface and frequently represent a new way of seeing the object and the artist.

Hill, whose work is now widely exhibited throughout the United States, holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from Arizona State University, and is currently working towards a master of fine arts degree. He is now in the process Of experimenting with new subjects for his art. His technical ability is superior and his realistic approach is receiving wide acclaim in all parts of the country.