Katie Hawkinson responds to the wonders of the natural environment in her paintings. Her studio in Berkeley California opens up to the backyard garden that is an extension of her creative process. For much of her life as a painter, the garden has been her muse in the form of abstraction. Listening to the rustle and chirp of the world and visually describing what it feels like to be alive are her main objectives. Color relationships, the play of light and shadow, and the dance between simple and complex forms engage her curiosity.

Recently, the paintings have changed. While they still rely on the same elements of visual language as the earlier abstract works, they now represent a more recognizable version of the natural world. 

In search of a meaningful studio practice that allows her to wonder, doubt, and face the challenge of the unknown, Katie follows her curiosity to where it takes her, ever changing.