Cary Hulbert

My paintings stem from daydreams, fantasy, and bouts of escapism. By depicting animals and nature living in a serene, harmonious existence, my landscapes portray a world of oneness where everything is connected. Flora and fauna germinate within my worlds, intermingling and taking on each other’s characteristics, creating fantastical and seemingly off-kilter landscapes.

My paintings stem from daydreams, fantasy, and bouts of escapism. By depicting animals and nature living in a serene, harmonious existence, my landscapes portray a world of oneness where everything is connected. Flora and fauna germinate within my worlds, intermingling and taking on each other's characteristics, creating fantastical and seemingly off-kilter landscapes. I work primarily on panels and mylar, a transparent paper that allows me to use both the front and back, adding depth and intricate layers. I play with opacity by using fluid acrylics and brush strokes and allowing layers of color to appear. This translucent quality of the work contributes to a state of unreality. Part imagined and part longed for, the universe in these works is a world where anything is possible. Upon closer inspection, my dreamy, colorful, and beautiful works also contain unique oddities, such as animal faces emerging from leaves or petals. Common animals in my paintings include moths, snakes, and dogs—the latter symbolizing the transition from wild to tame. These animals serve as an essential link between our human world and the environments I create. By depicting both feral and domesticated creatures, I pull these unpeopled worlds closer to humanity. I consider most of my works "spirit worlds," a beautiful place where physics doesn't apply, and the world can morph in and out of itself.