Hannibal native finds niche in the art of classical realism

Hannibal native Shelly Hammock Hubel, of Colorado Springs, Colo., poses in her home studio, surrounded by her artwork. Contributed photo.

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

The innocence of youth, the time-honored righteousness born of experience. The warmth of the sun; the chill in the shadow. Dawn’s beginning, dusk’s deep shadows.

Depth; darkness and light; movement, stillness, emotion.

Cumulative, these are tools of an artist, transforming a blank canvas into an image that the perceiver of the art can both see and feel.

Shelly Hammock Hubel, a daughter of Hannibal, now makes her home within eye range of the Rocky Mountains; her studio window a vista of nature’s grandeur in all seasons.

Formally educated in the classrooms of Hannibal-LaGrange College in the practical field of accounting, and later receiving training in the graduate school realm of trauma and psychology, she has transitioned back to the time of her childhood, when in order to find solitude, she would close herself in her bedroom, to draw.

“I could draw as a young elementary and middle and high school student. I would hide in my room and draw; but the classical skills, those are hard work, you have to put in the time,” she said.

After a 10-year career in accounting, and time devoted to raising her two children, she began the study of drawing and early painting at an atelier in Fort Worth, Texas, and color theory classes through Grand Central Atelier in New York. She has mentored with Contemporary Egg Tempera Master Julio Reyes and is currently mentored by Illustrator Hall of Fame inductee Thomas Blackshear II in Colorado Springs. 

Her focus is classical realism, “art that moves you,” she said.

“Being human is the very thing we all have in common and story is our lives. It’s the thing that brings us together and the thing that can separate us. There is beauty in our stories.”

Speaking of her time mentoring under Reyes, “Julio is a modern-day master. He lived in LA then moved his family to Fort Worth. An egg tempura master, he is also a figurative artist. His work is phenomenal. I took a workshop from him in 2021 and was part of a professional development group with him until we moved (to Colorado.) A small group of 6-8 people met with him once a month for five hours.

“God has redirected me quite a few times back to the art. That’s the reality of my life,” she said.

“Egg tempura is one of most difficult mediums,” she said. “I can get a higher level of detail faster with egg tempura than with oil. Because the paint dries instantly I can move faster. It offers a luminosity that is stunning.”

But when she moved to Colorado in 2022, she discovered that the low humidity there can have adverse effects on the medium. The egg tempera would dry before she finished her brush stroke. “I purchased a couple of free-standing humidifiers. It has been a challenge,” she said.

As for her work with Thomas Blackshear, “that is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said. “He is very generous with his time, he’s a great teacher. He’s an incredible artist. It is not uncommon for artists to share their skills, but he pours it into others.”

“In 2016, when I had finished the atelier program, I knew I needed a different direction for painting.  I started feeling selfish, and that art was frivolous,  But nothing could be farther from the truth. I now know that art truly enriches people’s lives.”

“I went squirrel chasing. I went to St. Louis to get my master’s in counseling. It was in my heart to help people who had been through trauma or abuse.

“What happened, was, I pushed so hard to get through the program that I got sick. I got an autoimmune disease.” 

She was doing well in her studies, “but the stress of how hard I was pushing myself” had adverse effects on her health. “I swelled up. I could hardly raise my arms. I didn’t know what had happened.”

She was diagnosed with limited systemic sclerosis.

After two years, she left the master’s program, and returned her focus to art.

Now her added focus is to stay healthy in both mind and spirit.

“There has been no progression of disease in eight years,” she said. It has not moved into her heart and lungs.

Her art reflects her newfound focus.

“Art brings life to people; it helps them connect to deep truths within themselves. It helps people ‘feel.’

“It helps us connect to the deep and genuine parts of ourselves. I finally feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. I feel I’m racing to catch up for lost time, but I don’t need to put that kind of pressure on myself. I’m right where I need to be in this space and time.”

As for her art progression, “I’m moving into a phase; there will be more concepts: a story rather than just an emotion you connect to.

“I have a couple series I’m working on, women and the traits and strengths of women.”

Shelly is also putting together work for an egg tempera show, for a Texas gallery in 2026.

You can follow Shelly on Instagram @hubelshelly or on facebook at shelly hammock hubel

Samples of Shelly Hubel's egg tempera paintings:

Samples of Shelly Hubel's oil paintings: