Once upon a time, there was a little girl who loved nothing more than the world of imagination. With a crayon in hand and a head full of dreams, she spent her days drawing castles in the clouds, fairies in the woods, and princesses waiting for their adventures to begin.
But as she grew older, she began to doubt her gifts. Though her heart was full of creativity, her hands didn’t always feel like they could bring her visions to life. For years, she believed art wasn’t meant for her—until the day this young woman took a class and learned to paint a misty night scene. That simple lesson was like a spark in the darkness. Suddenly, she realized that art wasn’t about perfection; it was about creating magic.
From that moment, she couldn’t stop painting. Day by day, her skills grew, and with each stroke of her brush, her confidence blossomed. Soon, people began to notice her work, and she started painting homes—little watercolor portraits of the places people cherished most. These tiny tokens of love marked the beginning of her artistic journey.
Over time, her work grew to include all sorts of special requests—beloved pets, engagement scenes, and treasured memories—but something was missing. Her art had become a task instead of a joy. She decided to pause, set aside commissions, and let herself create freely again. One day, she challenged herself to paint a castle. That one painting changed everything. She fell in love all over again, pouring her heart into each enchanted spire and winding staircase. Castles became her calling, and each one felt like stepping into a fairytale of her own making.
But her story didn’t stop there. A lifelong lover of books, she began to merge her two passions—art and storytelling. She started painting book edges, turning ordinary tomes into treasures, and collaborating with authors to bring their worlds to life. Each piece became a bridge between the pages and the imagination, drawing people deeper into the magic of stories.
Today, this wonderous woman invites you into the world of Hilltop Art, where fairytales come alive through watercolors and whimsy. Whether it’s a castle print, a piece of bookish art, or a custom creation, her work is a reminder that magic is everywhere—if only you take the time to look.
Welcome to her enchanted world. Your story is waiting to be told!
Inspired by my Medieval fantasies, love of castles, and favorite books – my treasured watercolor paintings can now be in your own home. Enjoy prints of many sizes!
Medieval Castles, Folklore, Christian Fiction, and Westerns. These are the stories that captivate my mind and inspire me in my Bookish Art journey.
Book edge, fore-edge, and bookish art are all terms used for painting on the paper edges of books – including the top, side, and bottom edges. A special clamp is used to hold the book together tightly so paint does not run into the inside story.
I’ve always loved castles! When I see a remarkable castle, I want to paint it!
Sometimes! Due to focusing on working with authors, I’ve reduced the amount of custom work I provide. But feel free to email me your request anyway and I can let you know if I’m available for custom work.
The Watercolor medium requires water to activate the paints and utilizes specific watercolor paper. The Watercolor technique works lightest value to darkest value, which is the opposite of acrylics.
No. Any projects that require a different medium i.e. acrylic, charcoal, or “procreate” I’m not willing to do. I enjoy being specifically a Watercolor Artist.
I love anything Christian fiction! Historical, fantasy, and medieval are among my favorite novels as well.
What makes it Christian is the author. Because what is in our hearts will pour onto the page. It’s inevitable. Science proves it with the “literary signature” (used in Forensic Science) that, through use of sentence structure and word choices, will point to our background – where we grew up, our religious beliefs, our age, etc. Anyone can add Bible verses to their story; it doesn’t make them a Christian nor their book a “Christian novel”. It’s the author.
I love collaborating with qualified authors! My moto is, “Where Christian fiction meets art”. I don’t promote things that don’t line up with my own personal morals so I stick to painting clean, Christian novels. If you meet this qualification, feel free to email me at info@bethanygiinthirart.com
Hi, I’m Bethany Giinthir, the artist behind Hilltop Art. From the time I could hold a crayon, I’ve loved creating. But for years, I thought I wasn’t any good at it. That all changed when I took a class and learned to paint a misty night scene. Something shifted in me—I realized that art wasn’t about being perfect; it was about capturing something beautiful, something meaningful.
From that moment, I couldn’t stop painting. I practiced constantly, experimenting with colors and techniques. It wasn’t long before others noticed my work, and I began watercoloring people’s houses—a sweet way to capture their most cherished spaces. That’s where my art business was born. Soon, I was creating custom pieces: paintings of beloved pets, dreamy engagement scenes (I’ve always avoided faces—trust me on this one), and other heartfelt commissions.
But as my business grew, something was missing. The joy I’d felt when I first started painting had faded. I wasn’t creating for me anymore. So, I decided to take a step back from custom work and rediscover my passion. During that season, I challenged myself to paint something I’d always loved—castles. That one challenge reignited my spark, and I fell head over heels for the process. Castles became my muse, and I’ve painted many since, each one steeped in magic and wonder. You can find them as prints in my shop, and they remain some of my favorite pieces to create.
I’ve always been a book lover, too, so it was only natural to combine my two greatest passions: art and stories. That’s when I began creating bookish art, from painting book edges to collaborating with talented authors to bring their worlds to life. Nothing makes me happier than blending words and colors to inspire imagination and wonder.
At Hilltop Art, my goal is to transport you to magical places, whether through a castle painting, a custom piece, or art inspired by your favorite stories. Thank you for joining me on this journey—I’m so glad you’re here!
