Cindy Hawkes

While growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, the arts were a staple in my family. Piano, dance, singing, sewing, crafting – I learned at an early age how to express myself through creative pursuits. After receiving a B.A. from Auburn University and an M.A. from the University of Memphis, I embarked on a career in Speech Pathology. However, the arts were never far away – wherever I was, I had a corner, a table, or a room to “set up shop” and escape for a few minutes or hours to satisfy my creative appetite. While raising my children in Greensboro, NC, my career path took a turn into the local arts scene, where I worked in fundraising.

Eventually, I found my way to painting – an art that I had always longed to explore and have since immersed myself in with great delight. Learning everything I could through workshops and classes, and exploring it all in my home studio has become my greatest passion. I spend most of my days at my easel, unaware of the passage of time, as I use paint to portray my impressions of the wonders of nature, explore emotion, and express my life’s experiences. Expressing myself through painting is my greatest joy and I love sharing it with others!

My paintings are inspired by color and texture, from bright and explosive to subtle and muted. The rich rainbow of hues found in nature, the uneven surface of an old flowerpot, contrasting light and shadow on a figure - these naturally occurring images fill me with a palpable urge to get into my studio, grab my brush and palette knife, and get to work on my canvas. Once there, I begin experimenting with color and composition, which can lay the groundwork for an expressionistic still life, landscape, or figure, or satisfy my creative longing by evolving into an abstract work. Whether painting from a photograph, life, or my mind’s eye, my ultimate goal is to use color to bring energy to interiors and evoke joy in the viewer. Turning my vision into a piece of art that speaks to others, while staying true to my original inspiration for each painting, feeds my soul and gives me a welcome sense of purpose.