Nature, Human Spirit Inspire Dazzling, Colorful Work

Tracie Hawkins spends a good part of her day soaking up
inspiration for her art. People she meets, the colors of nature and everyday life are integral parts of her creative energy and work.

That means on the flip side, she often finds herself working way into the evenings fleshing out ideas.

Hawkins, who is part of SmART Inc. program in Stone Mountain Village isn't complaining though. After a lengthy career in clothing manufacturing, she is glad to have the opportunity to nurture her art.  

“I’ve spent years wanting to get outside of myself and be creative,” said Hawkins. Each creation, whether it’s a quilt, painting, handbag or drawing is a new journey inspired by people, landscapes, still life and current events, she reflected.

“The human spirit moves me to create my quilts,” said Hawkins. “I try to portray who people are and what has formed them, she said.

For example, gracing her quilts are President Barack Obama and
Michael Jackson, both familiar personalities and part of our daily lives.
Hawkins, who stitches with precision and the eye of a perfectionist, says she enjoys portraying the powerful subjects in her brilliantly colored wall hangings.

Her oil paintings, saturated with color, are inspired by nature. One work entitled “Diaphanous Jellies” was created after a trip to the
Georgia Aquarium.  Transparent creatures floating in aqua water take the viewer underneath the ocean.  Another, “Oaxie,” an abstract work, rich with color is patterned after the Angel Oak trees in Charleston, South Carolina.

Although Hawkins has a degree in fashion design, she is not
interested in sewing clothes, but she is interested in creating handbags. Simple, well-crafted purses made with quality material are a popular item in her gallery. “I listen to what people want,” said Hawkins.

Because a purse is carried so close to the body, many of her
customers prefer bags that are natural looking and soft to the touch, she said. Clean looking shapes, not so boxy, made with fur, leather and soft cloths are sought after.  

Hawkins likes the camaraderie she has within the art incubator
program, sharing the space with fellow artists in Sailor Studio and Bill
Leavell.

“I wouldn’t want to be in a gallery by myself,” Hawkins said. “Having other artists to talk to, get ideas from and critique my work, keeps me full.”

She is excited about exploring new avenues such as painting
her own fabrics and creating images with thread, but will continue oil
painting.

“Since I joined the [art] incubator, I dream about what I saw during the day that inspired me. I can’t turn it off.”

You can see Hawkins' and other SmART Gallery artists work this Saturday at the monthly Art Stroll.

Art Stroll, Aug. 28. ART Station, 5384 Main Street, Stone Mountain Village. Galleries are open from 7 to 9 p.m. with refreshments. Check out the new gallery exhibit at ART Station featuring the portfolios of Gwinnett Technical College's graduating commercial photography students.