Meet Cindy Hawkes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Hawkes.

Hi Cindy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember, I have loved the creative process. The arts were always encouraged in my family when I was growing up. My mother was a vocalist/performer and I started very early with dance, piano, and voice lessons. She was also a gifted seamstress and sewing and knitting were my first hobbies that I still love today. I remember as a child going to the big department stores that had an entire floor for sewing supplies, browsing through the pattern books and running my hands through all the beautiful fabrics with their textures, colors, and patterns. I began making my own clothes at age 12, and I’m still obsessed with beautiful fabrics.

As an adult, I harbored a secret desire to paint but never had the time or opportunity to pursue it. I have a master’s degree in Speech Pathology and enjoyed a number of years in that profession, but eventually started migrating toward more creative career opportunities. I’ve always had creative projects going on in the background (they kept me sane) and even had a business making handbags for a while. When I finally picked up a paintbrush seven years ago and experienced the thrill of mixing colors and moving them across a canvas, I knew I’d found my true passion and was hooked. I love learning, so I began taking classes, exploring different techniques, and experimenting in my studio. And I literally haven’t stopped since!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a working artist, while incredibly fulfilling, is full of challenges, both at the easel and on the business side. In today’s digital world, having an online presence is absolutely essential, but it requires a lot of time. Website updates, social media postings, keeping email subscribers informed, the list goes on. When you’re both the artist and the business owner it’s difficult to juggle all the balls and still give ample time to the real work – creating art. For every finished painting the public sees, there are many hours of starting or painting over, and lots of discarded canvases that are never seen. Another hurdle is the fear that comes with putting your work out there for all the world to see. It’s extremely vulnerable to reveal your innermost ideas and emotions and risk rejection or judgment. I still have a little anxiety when I get in front of a blank canvas. Painting is a lot of trial and error, experimentation, and risk-taking – things that can’t be taught, only learned from many solitary hours in the studio. It requires a great deal of self-discipline, time management (not my forte), passion, and diligence. But because I love it and it fulfills a deep need within me, it’s totally worth it.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Painting pushes all my buttons: my love affair with color, my need for originality, and my love of learning. It’s never boring and always fun to see what emerges each day. My inspiration comes from the things I love most – nature, fashion, interior design, travel, and people. It’s exhilarating to turn on some music and sling paint onto a canvas. Getting lost in the process and watching the magic happen is a big adrenaline rush for me. I think I’m probably known most for my florals. That being said, I see my work as rather eclectic. I love to paint whatever is inspiring me at the moment, it’s really the process that excites me most. It could be landscapes, abstracts, figures, or still life – mixing colors, applying the paint, using different media, and creating textures is pure joy. I’ve just come off of a floral binge, which often happens when March rolls around. The colors of Spring just really light me up. And that often segues into abstracts, which allow me to more freely and fully mix and apply those beautiful colors and shapes. I’m currently working on some abstract beach landscapes, also inspired by the season. Figures and faces are a constant obsession – I always have something going on with those in the background. The way that I use color and texture is consistent regardless of subject matter and I think makes my work recognizable and, hopefully, memorable.

I’m really proud of how I’ve followed my heart, without letting fear of rejection take over. It’s so important to let go of fear and let passion be your driving force because you never know what can happen when you put yourself “out there”. A few years ago I was approached by a popular HGTV show, “Bargain Mansions”. The show’s host, Tamara Day, had run across my paintings online and wanted to use some of them on her show. It caught me completely off guard and I had a rush of fear and excitement that is hard to describe. Fear that I might not be able to deliver, but pure joy that my work had inspired someone else. I’m now in my 3rd season of Bargain Mansions which will air on the Magnolia Network in the Fall of 2022 and feel very grateful for such an amazing opportunity.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
As I said, I’m a lifelong learner, so I could write a book on this. I try to take at least one art class every year, it keeps me open to new possibilities and approaches in my work. I listen to a lot of art and small business podcasts. Some of my favorites are Art Juice, The Art Biz, and Social Media Marketing. I also like nutrition and wellness podcasts, to learn about keeping my mind and body strong and working well so that I can enjoy my family and paint for many years to come. Mind Body Green and The Good Life Project are two of my favorites. I do have quite the collection of art books, from how-to’s to artist biographies to photos of beautiful things, that I often peruse when I want to feel inspired. Used book stores are a great place to find them. And music is a requirement while I’m painting. I listen to different genres, depending on what kind of mood I want to portray in my work and how I’m feeling. I have a playlist of twenty-eight hours of my favorite songs that I’ve been building for several years and it’s my go-to. Honestly, just being in my studio with all of my art supplies and paintings in progress gives me so much peace and joy. I’m very grateful to have found my purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cindyhawkesart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindyhawkesart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cindyhawkesart

Image Credits
Mariposa Pictures Sarah MacKenzie Photo