Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Flynn.
Hi Cindy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a native of Atlanta; a large city filled with gray concrete and tall buildings but also green trees, carpets of grass and blooming flowers. Outside of the city, I enjoy exploring the natural beauty of Georgia and the South. I see creation as a special gift, which we have been given to explore, celebrate, study and enjoy. I love sitting still in nature and seeing what new treasure is revealed. I hope to show others the gift and creativity of nature in each of my paintings. My faith in God peaks through each stroke of paint.
I studied at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia and earned a Bachelors of Science in Art Education with a concentration in 3 dimensional work. I taught elementary and middle school students art for over 20 years. I also painted murals for nurseries and playrooms as well as designed and created jewelry pieces using various metals.
A few years ago, I felt lead to leave the classroom and pursue painting. I dove into oil painting and have studied under multiple painters. Cinflynnart was born! I hope to use my God-given talents, my continued study and my love of nature to point others to the beauty and creativity that surrounds us each day but is often overlooked.
Through Cinflynnart, I take commission paintings and sell my work online via social media and my website www.Cinflynnart.com. Social media has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and grow and learn and explore! I began my art business in these platforms and have recently joined The Roswell Square Gallery in Historic Roswell as a place to show my work, learn and paint with other painters, and have time to chat with members of the community in person. So far, I’m loving it!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has been fun, challenging, and exciting. My biggest challenge is getting people to know me! I love what I get to do and I want to share it with others. I’m building my audience and my collectors. I am consistently busy with commission work and each sale invites a new person into my art family. Cinflynnart has been a great success in its first year and I can’t wait to see where it leads! Another challenge is a blank canvas. I think all artists will say that! The blank canvas is a little scary… and once I’ve started, the work will flow. I feel a story as I paint and the story comes to completion once the work is done. I write that story and share it when I post a painting. Many people have told me my words about my paintings have inspired them and sometimes made them cry. I love that I get to point someone to the beauty all around and have that beauty of paint and words evoke an emotional response. It is a blessing!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am mostly an oil painter focusing on landscapes. I do paint florals and birds but truly enjoy the space of a landscape. There is so much life in the land, water and sky. A gray day can be a beautiful scene of soft and subtle shades yet be filled with energy of lines and textures! I am most known for my palette knife paintings. I’ve done several inspired by a trip to the Atlanta Botanical garden as well as a series inspired by my travels around the south called Southern Scapes. Each palette knife painting has its own magic and invites the viewer in through the vibrant colors and dramatic texture. These palette knife paintings are smaller works but I also love to paint large. I use brushwork and palette knives on my large canvases. I’m also very proud of my commission pieces. I learn the story of my client, why the image or space has meaning and significance, what emotions it evokes and why it will be important in a space. These questions help me create paintings with meaning and energy. I love when my client loves the work and it is exactly as wanted!
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Artists will always be artists. There will always be a need to create. Unique art will always be wanted. People will want work they relate to and connect with on an emotional level. Design will be important and people will want to fill their homes with these finds… My hope is the local artist will continue to have a vehicle to share their work. Mass produced work can be beautiful but the story behind the local artist is priceless, connected, and meaningful. I do believe there will be more digital art in the future. I also believe artists will continue to connect with people all over the world via social media. That growth potential is huge. I still believe artists will be in markets and art shows and festivals because our work connects with people and we want to connect with these people. I see a happy blending of both! It is happening now and I see it continuing to grow!
Contact Info:
- Email: Cinflynnart@gmail.com
- Website: www.cinflynnart.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/cinflynnart
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/cinflynnart
