Mama Hawk Draws leaves her mark on Macon through murals, paintings, sketches and community organizing

I had a conversation this week with Erin Hawkins, also known as Mama Hawk Draws. Years ago, before I actually knew her, she was someone people in the art world kept mentioning to me, assuming I – and everyone else for that matter – would know of her because of her talent, her high-profile works and, significantly, her community involvement and work building community among area creatives.

This Q&A reflects the conversation we had while she was at Camp Hope, facilitating art therapy and mindfulness classes with the kids.

Q: Your work ranges from stickers to sketches to paintings to murals, as well as running a business to handle it all. Do you consider yourself an artist, a graphic designer or an entrepreneur/businesswoman?

A: Yes. All the above. Oh, and a community organizer.

Q: What drew you into art?

A: I’ve always been artistically inclined, even though in elementary school I tried out for a program they called Talent Art and didn’t make it. They told me I wasn’t good enough. But I didn’t stop. I have amazing parents who supported me in doing art and an amazing teacher in high school who taught traditional art but then started teaching this new thing called computer art. I fell in love with it and knew I wanted to be a graphic designer. I went to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, then into the corporate world in Washington, D.C.

Q: Where did you grow up, and how long have you been in Macon?

A: From Mandeville, La., and here in Macon for 10 years.

Q: You’ve done some high-profile projects while here. What are a few? What are the highlights?

A: I love the Atrium Health Amphitheater project where I create large works that look like cassettes for each concert. I do the lettering in different styles suited to the artist and create a small one for them to have. It’s pretty cool that all these stars have my artwork. Right now, they’re mainly backstage but they’ll be in other areas as things progress.

Another would be the four crosswalks I’ve done with Bike Walk Macon, including the musical river one on Cherry Street with notes to Little Richard’s song “Southern Man” on it. I like that the street murals use art to solve a very specific problem: increasing bike and pedestrian safety.

Another favorite is a mural for Visit Macon in memory of Steven Fulbright. There are song lyrics on it, too, but the sentiment is it’s a celebration of music history and how amazing Fulbright was, how kind, and what an impact he had on Macon. It was such a treat and blessing to be part of that project and make it as vibrant as his personality.

Q: One more?

A: I’d have to say the mural I did with students at S.O.A.R. Academy, an alternative learning academy here in Macon-Bibb. Seven kids worked with me on it on Fridays for about six weeks. We went through the whole process from meetings with the “client” to coming up with ideas and sketches to getting the design up on the wall. Of course, there had to be communication and teamwork and a lot of soft skills that aren’t part of a normal class. They were able to have a voice and bring their ideas and skills. What I love is how much they taught me and the impact they had on my life — I choke up now thinking about it. They got to see their value, got to do good work and realize if you make a mistake, you can correct it and move on.

Q: How did you get started here with murals?

A: I was fortunate to connect with 7th Street Salvage and one day just threw out, “Hey, I like your stuff. If you ever need a mural, I’d love to collaborate with you.” And crazy enough, they said yes and gave me the opportunity to work with them to figure things out and get going.

Q: How about what I’ll call your low-profile work? Stickers, prints, paintings, private home and business murals.

A: You know, murals are expensive, but if you’re digging the things I make, there are ways to connect through those other things, hand-lettering classes I teach and things like that. You can still have a piece of Mama Hawk Draws if that’s what you want. I’ve got a wide range from a $4 sticker or, if you’ve got more bank, you can have a beautiful mural in your home.

Q: What about your process?

A: Basically, everything I do starts out being designed on my computer or iPad. I draw on paper, too, but that goes through the computer eventually. Everything starts out crisp and clean, and my work usually finishes up with a crisp, clean look. From there, it’s using whatever works best to get that idea out into the world on a wall, a street, a sticker — whatever the project calls for.

Q: In addition to owning your Mama Hawk Draws, on May 21, you opened Tanglewood Arts Studios at 1080 Third Street, Suite 500. Is it a private studio, a gallery or what?

A: It goes back to when I was a kid and dreamed of having a studio. It’s mainly my studio, my office, a gathering space, plus a gallery. But not one with regular hours, purely because I have three kids and the hectic schedule that entails. It’s more by appointment. Or if you see my car parked outside, come on in. It’s still a work in progress and I’m open to a lot of possibilities. I will show different artists but it will be more quarterly than monthly. I want to create events there. I’d love for people to use it as a space to bring people together and use it as a safe, inclusive space for gatherings. I want to do things like have art classes or someone do a photography series, things like that. There’ll be a wide price range so it’s approachable for kids and adults.

Q: How did the names Mama Hawk Draws and Tanglewood come about?

A: Well, I have strong older daughter vibes — some might say bossy, I’ll just call them strong leadership skills. Plus, motherly sensibilities. Even in the corporate world, I guess I showed a motherly instinct and started getting called Mama Hawk. When I was opening the business here, I wanted Mama Hawk-something and since I draw, hmmm, Mama Hawk Draws sounded right.

It’s funny, I get introduced as Erin Hawkins and there’s kind of a blank thing. Then someone says I’m Mama Hawk Draws and they’re like, “Oh, yeah.” It’s like I have this secret identity thing as Erin.

Tanglewood’s address is on Third Street, but it was going to be on Hawthorne. I was brainstorming and thought of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Tanglewood Tales,” plus the neighborhood I grew up in was called Tanglewood. Diving into what Tanglewood means, I found it’s things growing and working together and that speaks to its mission. I’m also proud of its logo because it has the birth flowers of two of my kids and one of our kiddos is nicknamed Bee, and there’s a bee on it. It reflects back to them and building this business shows them how you can create a business and a safe space for others in your community. My husband, Spencer, and I think it’s important to include our kids in the work we do and the community we’re part of.

Q: Whether it’s getting kids and other people to work with you on projects or inviting people into Tanglewood or your role in 478 Creatives, you seem to stress community.

A: It’s important to me. When I first moved here, I had no “group.” I started a book club and made some of the best friends. I put a call out for help painting a pool and that turned out to be the beginning of the 478 Creatives community. It’s also how I met Kevin Lewis, who became one of my best artist friends, someone whose judgment I trust and who has leased space for a studio at Tanglewood. I think it’s important for artists of all types, for creative people of every kind — and I have to say I think everyone has a measure of creativity in what they do — but I think it’s important for them to be in community, get input and be encouraging and supportive of one another.

Note: Some answers may have been condensed and edited for space and readability. 

Discover more about Hawkins at mamahawkdraws.com.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com. Find him on Instagram at @michael_w_pannell.