Hillie’s Artwork: An East Texas Mural Artist Bringing Walls — and People — to Life

Step inside Hillie’s Artwork in downtown Gladewater and you’ll hear the steady buzz of a tattoo gun beneath a gallery of heroes and villains—Thanos, Spider-Man, Loki, and Black Panther—all frozen mid-battle, as if the multiverse found a home in East Texas.

Hillie is an East Texas mural artist and tattooist whose story blurs the line between craft and community. His work stretches from small-town storefronts to local schools, each piece layered with the same quiet dedication he brings to every tattoo.

Learning the Craft

Hillie’s journey began in the Longview mall, airbrushing T-shirts long before he ever picked up a tattoo machine.

“I’d be painting in the mall, and the tattoo guys would come out and watch me,” he recalls. “They asked if I wanted to learn how to tattoo, and I said sure, let’s do it.”

He learned quickly. His bold colors and eye for depth caught attention, and soon one form of art naturally led into another.

An Artist Without Tattoos

Hillie laughs about the question he gets almost every day: how does a tattoo artist not have tattoos?

“Everyone talks about it,” Hillie says. “Even if they’ve been getting tattooed by me for ten years, it always comes up. A lot of the men say, ‘You should just let me tattoo you.’”

He pauses. “It used to feel like not having tattoos was a liability. Now I see it as an asset.”

That focus on others defines his studio. It’s clean, calm, and conversation-driven—a place where connection often matters as much as the design.

---

“It’s kind of like therapy,” he says. “Sometimes people talk about things they haven’t said in years… and I just listen.”

---

From Skin to City Walls

Hillie’s art has never been about surface—it’s about story. What began as tattooing in a quiet Gladewater shop has expanded to murals that now color schools, storefronts, and street corners across East Texas. Each wall carries the same spirit as his tattoos: intentional, personal, and meant to last.

When he’s outside painting, people often stop to talk—neighbors, kids on bikes, curious passersby. Hillie never rushes them.

“When folks stop to talk,” Hillie says, “I take it as a break. Maybe I’m being given that break for a reason.”

Those conversations have become as much a part of his art as the brushstrokes themselves. Through them, he’s learned that murals can do more than brighten a wall—they can build connection.

From the 150-year logo on the Gladewater Museum to storefront murals and flags that seem to ripple with movement, Hillie’s work tells stories of small-town pride and perseverance.

Building Unity Through Art

When Hillie first opened his tattoo shop, there weren’t even zoning codes for tattoo studios in Gladewater.

“I had to go to City Hall,” he remembers. “I was nervous—thought people might be against it. But they showed up to support us. The ones you’d expect to push back turned out to be some of my biggest supporters.”

Since then, he’s become a familiar face downtown—coaching kids, chatting with business owners, and spending time with anyone curious about his work.

 “I think you can harm people by your looks, by how you look at people, how you talk to people, what you say… it’s kind of funny how we are really big on, ‘I can say whatever I want,’ but you can just hurt people by how you talk.”

That line, delivered softly, sums up Hillie’s approach to both art and life: careful, kind, and rooted in respect.

What’s Next for This East Texas Mural Artist

Today, Hillie continues to paint across East Texas while preparing to launch art classes that give others a safe, creative space to explore their talent. It’s not just about technique—it’s about time spent together, learning through conversation and community.

“I think all art works that way,” Hillie says. “I think all conversations work that way. It’s all for something bigger.”

Hillie’s Artwork is more than a studio—it’s a space where creativity meets compassion. Whether it’s a tattoo that carries meaning or a mural that brings a street to life, Hillie’s work reminds East Texas that art still has the power to connect us all.

🎨 Murals • Tattoos • Custom Artwork

📍 Gladewater, TX – Serving all of East Texas

📞 (903) 780-9343

Why Sage Media Featured Hillie

At Sage Media, our mission is simple: to lift up the people behind the business—amplifying local voices, encouraging their growth, and strengthening the communities we all call home.

Hillie’s Artwork represents exactly why we believe in putting local first. His story isn’t just about murals or tattoos; it’s about persistence, creativity, and the quiet ways small business owners make their towns better.

If you’re a local business owner with a story worth sharing—or you’d like help bringing your own brand to life—Sage Media is here to help you get seen, heard, and supported right here in East Texas.