Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Boney.
Hi Cindy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As far back as I can remember, art has always been part of my life. As a child, I often watched my mother paint landscapes with oils while my father would take me on walks to photograph nature. My aunts and grandmas often sewed or crocheted gifts for Christmas and birthdays. While they worked, I would sit beside them, making my own creations.
Off and on during my 20s and 30s, I would engage in needlecraft, make Christmas ornaments and stockings, and small samplers. Later, I became mesmerized by the scrapbooking craze. Creating pages and riffling through colored papers satisfied my creativity for a while. It wasn’t long before I started noticing that I was more interested in the art on the paper than creating layouts for my albums. Papers that piqued my interest most were those with watercolor, hazy images of florals and abstracts. I fell in love with the fluid aspect of those forms so much that one day, I decided to try watercolor.
That was in 2016, and while my journey with watercolor is still a passion of mine, I have branched out to acrylic medium and mixed-media art. It’s probably safe to say that I just love art and creating, all day, every day. My inspiration mainly comes from the plants and nature surrounding my home. My husband is an avid gardener, so I often find vignettes around our home to paint. I believe that art truly awakens the soul, and it is my sincere wish that my art resonates with the viewer.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In the beginning, art was a way to unwind from the often exhausting and stressful demands of being an educator. Coming home and spending just twenty minutes watching pigments mingle on the paper was enough to reset my mind and be present with my family.
However, being a perfectionist, I found myself being dissatisfied with simply-shaped florals and geometric abstracts. I wanted to recreate the beauty that surrounded me. I wanted to capture the essence and details of florals while at the same time being unique and expressive. Needless to say, I put a lot of pressure on myself to become my own version of Van Gogh and O’Keeffe. Frustrations mounted as I turned to artist tutorials on YouTube and learning platforms. When my work didn’t ‘measure up’ to my expectations, I fell into the trap of impostor syndrome, harshly judging every little attempt at creating beautiful art.
That is when podcasts such as Creative Pep Talk, Art Juice, and Learn to Paint rescued me from giving up. I learned through these seasoned artists that what I was experiencing was normal and would likely rear its ugly head again and again. My breakthrough came when I started embracing the ugly process of learning something new, pushing through middle-stages, and accepting that art truly is something that is experienced every time the brush is put to paper or canvas. In short, my breakthrough came when I realized I had a lot to learn and time was on my side.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Currently, I enjoy painting florals and still-lifes in acrylics and watercolor. My husband and I live in a rural community on six acres of land. This allows me to observe nature and paint outdoors. In addition, I enjoy painting alongside fellow artists and giving and receiving encouragement that only community can provide. Because of that, my work is approachable, and the enlarged subjects give the viewer the feeling of being surrounded. I love to experiment with different techniques and color schemes, thus my work reflects my sense of adventure and taking risks.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I enjoy listening to artist podcasts, following along with YouTube videos, and reading books on art techniques. My growth as an artist took off when I found local artist clubs. Groups like Central Texas Watercolor Society and Waco Calligraphy Guild have offered outstanding workshops, which have helped me develop my process and style. Simply creating alongside other artists is both instructional and encouraging as I glean tips and insights and add them to my artist toolbox. There is no substitute for community and the willingness to take risks.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.caboney.art
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caboney1/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caboney1
