Egg-painting helps artist break out of his creative shell

KEMPSVILLE

To look at Bill Hiller's strong, masculine hands with rugged, thick fingers, one wouldn't think he could create the delicate, hand-painted eggs he does.

But, Hiller, who turns 91 in August, lovingly and diligently works on his unique craft almost daily.

The Princess Anne Commons resident is a native of North Dakota who was raised as a farm boy. He retired after 35 years as a minister in the United Church of Christ and lost his first wife in 1983.

"That's when I started to play around with art," said Hiller, who is a great-grandfather and has two daughters, Cheryl Jorban and Valetta Fellenbaum.

With no formal training and plenty of hours to fill, Hiller began to delve into his creative side - a side he didn't even know existed.

"My daughter bought me a kit," said Hiller, who displays his first creation - a handmade crewel pillow - on a chair in his living room. "I read the instructions and liked it."

Before long he was cutting apart catalogs and creating elaborate flower art he aptly named "Sears and Roebuck Art."

In time, Hiller switched to watercolor painting.

"I was able to do fairly good work and sold some," he said.

Embroidery work followed - and after one kit, Hiller decided he'd much rather design his own patterns. "I like to do my own or it's boring. I stitch the way I stitch," said Hiller.

Floss and fabric art became his next passion.

"I was fascinated by the colors and thought from here on I'll do art with fabric and floss to entertain myself," said Hiller, who made approximately 75 pieces and gave most away as gifts.

Three years ago, Hiller realized the stitching was becoming too much for him and he decided to switch gears.

"I wanted to make an egg tree for Easter," said Hiller, who has been making eggs ever since.

Fellenbaum is the music director at Providence Presbyterian Church, where Hiller gives each choir member an egg.

"I have not sold them," he said. "They are how I show my appreciation to people."

A tiny hole poked into each side of the large egg allows Hiller to carefully blow out the inside. He then drains, dries and dyes them before he gets busy with his acrylic paints - gently and thoughtfully creating flowers, birds, butterflies and more on the outside and inside through a tiny hole he cuts with cuticle scissors.

"No two are ever alike," said Hiller, who works at his kitchen table. A bow made with pastel colors adorns the top of each completed egg, which Hiller stores in cartons.

With arthritis riddling his lower body, Hiller finds joy and peace in his craft.

"When I do this, I forget about my pain," he said. "I do eggs to ease my aches."

Already finished with the eggs he'll give to the choirs next Easter, Hiller isn't willing to stop making them.

"I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have my eggs to paint."

"Maybe instead of one egg, you can give everybody a dozen," suggested Jorban with a smile.

Sandra J. Pennecke, Pennecke@cox.net