Sacred Artist Interview: Bill Hughlett
January 24, 2008 · by Christine
I first met Bill Hughlett because of my friendship with his wife Kayce, aka the delightful lucy. I fell in love with his photography before I ever met him and then have had the chance to sit at dinner on a few occasions now and get to know him a bit better. He is a really engaging person who speaks passionately about both his spiritual journey and his creative expression. I am excited to share his insights into the connection between the two, so on to Bill’s responses:
A brief introduction of yourself — faith tradition (if you have one), spiritual practice, art medium
I was born in the Belgian Congo – my parents and grandparents were missionaries for the Methodist church so from the beginning my faith tradition was based on Christian evangelism. In recent years my spiritual practice has undergone a shift and is much more about God’s kingdom right here, right now and less about trying to get into heaven or stay out of hell! Photography of ordinary, every day beauty – which is actually extraordinary - and to a lesser degree music, are the art forms I use to express what I see and feel.
How do you experience the connection between spirituality and creativity?
Stepping outside of the rigid, fundamentalist frame I’d been in for most of my life had an explosive effect on my creativity. A mind and spirit that are free to question and explore without the fear of backing into some theological propeller just have infinitely more raw material to work with in the creative context.
What role does spiritual practice have in your art making? (and vice versa)
For me art-making itself becomes the spiritual practice. Capturing a moment on “film” that holds something sacred in it, or listening to or playing a beautiful melody are more transcendent than any religious experience I can remember. It was a great day when I realized that sharing my art with people was as important an act of evangelism as standing on a street corner witnessing to strangers or going into the heart of darkness somewhere to share the gospel!
What sparked your current spiritual journey? What sparked your artistic journey?
We were in crisis with our teenage son about five years ago and it forced me to stand back and look at myself and put most of what was in my spiritual foundation through the fire, so to speak. It was astonishing if not terrifying how little of it survived. As far as sparking my artistic journey, the creativity was always there, and occasionally there would be sightings, but it took getting blasted out of my religious fortress to really get things moving.
Do you have a particular process you use when entering into your creative work?
It’s not a process I can really define except to say I know when it’s happening. Often things catch my eye in the everyday collage of people, places and things – it’s literally a physical sensation that tells me there is something worth paying attention to. If I take the time to “work” these moments, something beautiful almost always emerges.
What are your favorite resources to spark your creativity? (books, music, etc.)
I’m fortunate to have some nice tools to work with as far as equipment, and the technical knowledge to use them. I’m also inspired and influenced by the work of other photographers – Bryan Peterson, John Shaw and Phil Borges are three that have had a big impact on my work.
Thank you so much to Bill for taking the time to share some of these insights into his own creative process and spiritual journey. I especially love the image of the explosion of creativity that comes from being in an environment of questioning and searching and art as its own act of evangelism. Make sure to visit Bill’s website to see more of his stunning images. His prints are available for sale and he also makes gorgeous notecards.
Photos from top to bottom:
kino nueve | sonora, mexico
salmon bay | seattle, washington | 1st place 2007 CAC juried art show
e. smith | pembroke parish, bermuda
highline highschool | burien, washington | 3rd place 2006 CAC juried art show
** Visit this week’s Poetry Party! Submit your own before the end of the day on Friday to be entered into a drawing to win a prize. **
Posted in Sacred Artist Interview |
January 24th, 2008 at 2:40 am
thanks for sharing this spectacular photography
and the spiritual journey notes
it’s nice to meet others on a parallel pathway
January 24th, 2008 at 3:09 am
Christine, thanks for this, I’m really enjoying these interviews.
Bill, I was especially struck by the connection you make about your emerging art and examining your fundamentalist background. I suspect you have writing ability as well: “backing into some theological propeller” - really evocative.
January 24th, 2008 at 4:23 am
This was very enlightening. I love the idea of art-making as spiritual practice in itself. I would site a favorite photograph but all four are very complelling.
What a kind face…I can see why you fell in love with his photo’s. I did , too!
January 24th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Boy, he’s got some beautiful work over at his gallery. Thanks for the heads up, Tess. I’m always on the lookout for new photographers to follow.
January 24th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Oh…I get it…you fell in love with the photographs he had taken! Hmmm…well, guess I am still a psychologist…
January 24th, 2008 at 9:03 am
I am really glad you are all enjoying this feature, it continues to be a lot of fun for me. Tess, I agree about Bill’s writing.
Suz, you are too funny! Apparently you are also still a woman as well.
I went in and changed the word ‘photos’ to ‘photographs’ to hopefully clear up any confusion that I am not infatuated with my good friend’s husband, as lovely a person as he is!) 
January 24th, 2008 at 9:26 am
well christine & ladies…i am laughing, crying (for joy) and thoroughly enjoying this celebration…lest there be any confusion…he forgot to mention that I, lucy, am his muse (or maybe i just made that up, but it sounds good :-). clearly, he is a passionate and talented artist and i am honored to be his life companion.
he does come up with some of the most amazing phrases of imagery!!!
thank you, christine. it is truly a blessing to see this interview (for more reasons than i can possibly imagine!!)
January 24th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Well, Christine and Suz - Mr. Hughlett is as charming as the photos/photographs he takes! I am a big fan of him personally and of his incredible work. (BTW - Lucy knows all my devotion:)
I’ll give Mr. Hughlett credit for the phrase on my blogsite, but I have to incorporate the phrase “getting blasted out of my religious fortress” - who knew he was gifted with words as well!
These interviews are very inspiring. Thank you!
January 24th, 2008 at 9:49 am
(Suz, turning a light shade of purple!)
The only pleasure I take in this is that I imagine Mr. Hughlett will enjoy us appreciating his charm!
I’m sorry, Lucy! How lovely to be his muse! I am a muse, too…though not to a poet. Can one be a muse to a pediatrician?
January 24th, 2008 at 10:48 am
lucy, I imagine that you are so much a part of his inspiration it is like the air he breathes and is not always aware of.
You are welcome SS.
Suz, I imagine he will be a little purple himself at all this gushing, but deep down I bet he soaks it in.
And yes, definitely you can be a muse to a pediatrician!
January 24th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Thanks for introducing us to Bill Hughlett, Christine. His photography is pure delight. Bill has a great eye for the moment and a passion to get on out there and capture it! I appreciate and understand his personal story of how his spirituality has transcended. Excellent website, too. The photo of the ‘holiday lights truck’ brought an immediate huge smile
January 24th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
I too really enjoyed this interview with this talented, thoughtful and articulate photographer, who I now know is the husband of a creative, delightful, thoughtful and kind blogger. (Hi Lucy.)
I had the some response as Bette to the ‘holiday lights truck’.
January 27th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
[…] as is his way of homing in on unusual angles and details. There’s an interview with him here at Abbey of the […]
January 27th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Hi friends –
I realize this response is woefully late….as Lucy explained, ‘four days is an eternity’ – I think she meant on the blogosphere ☺
I was overwhelemed and humbled by the response to Christine’s interview here and with some of the ‘offline’ correspondence I’ve had through h3images. I especially appreciate the openess and acceptance for my spiritual viewpoints which must come across as a little harsh to some – not my intent, but it’s been a real struggle at times.
It’s a wonderful, warm community here….I don’t stand a chance of keeping up with the prodigious flow of quality material but check my site from time-to-time and I’ll do my best to cross a “t” or dot an “i” here and there.
Bill
January 27th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Bill, I am delighted this was such a positive experience for you and I am grateful for you sharing of yourself in this way. It has been a great gift getting to know both you and your muse lucy.
February 2nd, 2008 at 10:33 am
What wonderful photographs…I’m going right over to check out Bill’s gallery. Thanks for sharing these, and the interview giving us some insight into the person behind the camera, with us Christine.