Irvin Hawkes

“I am particularly attracted to the rural scenery, the old barns, equipment and farm houses that are being abandoned with the change in farming from the 100 acre farms of my youth to the 1000 plus acre farms without fences or buildings or tree lines. To drive through some Mennonite or Amish countryside is a drive of memories. Age has limited my mobility, so I do a lot of roadside driving and viewing for a scene that attracts me to photograph and paint it. Painting has pleasantly replaced many of the more active hobbies and tasks that I have had
to put off."
Irvin Hawkes resides in Brights Grove, Ontario, Canada near Lake Huron and spends his winters in Fort Myers, FL. Irvin is retired from a career in Instrumentation and Controls. He is married to Mary for 53 years, has a son and daughter, 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Irvin paints in watercolor and likes varied subjects but primarily landscapes or other pictures of interest that he has photographed. Irvin has always had an interest in art and sketching but did not take an active interest in painting until after retiring and being reintroduced to art and watercolor painting, while in Florida. His initial classes were with Susan Brown at the Art League of Fort Myers, after which he joined the Fort Myers Beach Art Association and had classes with Sue Pink and Cheryl Fausel. Both of these artists have had a strong influence in developing his work.
He also has completed a portrait painting workshop with artist Kathy Durdin and classes with Sarnia Artist Kathy Rath. During Covid Irvin took on-line workshops with David Smith, Michael Holter, Johannes Vloothuis, and others. Starting in 2018, Irvin started to exhibit some of his paintings and has won awards from his initial showings at juried shows. Irvin is a member of the Sarnia Artists’ Workshop, 6+1 Art Group, Ft. Myers Beach Art Association and the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts.
He has exhibited at: Irvin can be reached on the web at irvinhawkes@hotmail.com and on Facebook