Freelance Artist Cynthia Bainton

Bio Summary

A graduate of Smith College with a B.A. in Art, Cindy is a freelance artist with over 25 years experience and professional backgrounds in textile design, botanical drawing, and watercolor art. She is most well known for her over 200 whimsical greeting card designs published through Recycled Paper Greetings Inc.. Cindy has been featured in several national and local press stories concerning her artwork.

Cindy's favorite characters to draw are playful, colorful little birds. She calls them Hokeybirds ("hoe-key birds") because very often they do not behave like normal little birds. They can be seen defying gravity, standing on each other, wearing clothes, etc. Although several other greeting card artists now draw similar birds, Cindy was the first. Almost every card design will have one hiding in it somewhere.

Cindy now works from her home in the famous town of Celebration FL, where she lives with her husband Keith, their cat Lily, and (of course) her hokeybirds. She has been privileged to meet several other greeting card artists in her career, including her friend Mary Melcher. She continues to create designs for Recycled Paper Greetings, and has begun operating her own internet store. Products featuring her designs can be purchased online directly from her store at CynthiaBainton.com.

Background

Raised near New Haven CT, Cindy is the granddaughter of famous author Roland H. Bainton. She began her professional career after school as a botanical illustrator for Georgia's Callaway Gardens in 1975. Then in 1979, she spent the next 6 years doing color and repeat design work for Cohama-Riverdale Fabrics and the well-known Waverly Fabrics in New York City. All during this time, it was her dream to create greeting cards and in 1984, Cindy published her first greeting card through Oatmeal Studios. Then in 1990 Recycled Paper Greetings started what was to be a long relationship and became a licensed distributor of her card designs. Cindy has dedicated herself full-time to her artwork ever since.

In 1993, What on Earth Inc. licensed some of her Christmas designs for t-shirts and sweat shirts. Today products with her designs continue to be sold through Recycled Paper Greetings, and are availabe directly through her internet store CynthiaBainton.com.

Professional Experience

CynthiaBainton.com (2006 - Present)

CynthiaBainton.com is Cindy's personal web site and online store. Cindy also markets local card designs for the town of Celebration FL.

Recycled Paper Greetings, Chicago IL. (1990 - Present)

Has published notepads, POST-IT pads, and over 200 greeting cards based on Cindy's designs.

What on Earth Inc. (1993 - 1994)

Several t-shirts and sweat shirts were licensed with Cindy's popular Christmas designs.

Freelance Contract Work, CT (1985 - 1989)

Store front and window displays, posters, signs, cards, and announcements for various businesses in Ansonia, Wallingford, and Waterbury.

Oatmeal Studios, Rochester VT (1984)

Published her first Christmas card design.

Cohama-Riverdale Fabrics, and Waverly Fabrics, NY, NY (1979-1985)

Colorist and Repeat artist. Responsible for color-coordination, pattern design, and quality control. Responsibilities also included travel to South Carolina for millwork.

Inner City School, New Haven, CT (1977)

Part-time art teacher for 2nd and 5th grade students.

Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA (1975)

Botanical illustrator during horticultural internship.

Education

Fashion Institute of Technology, NY, NY (1979)

A.A.S degree in Textile Design.

Smith College, Northampton, MA (1975)

B.A. degree in Art, minor in Botany.