Meet Lucy Hawk | Hand Cut Paper Artist & Gallery Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lucy Hawk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lucy, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
One of the quotes that I have found incredibly helpful, especially in the early stages of selling art full time, is “Art doesn’t expire”. As an artist, sharing work that comes from that beautiful yet vulnerable place inside, it can be easy to fall down a line of thinking that a piece may not be good when you have it in your possession for a while. But in reality, a piece of art doesn’t lose its value & worth because you made it 2 weeks ago or even 2 years ago; it just hasn’t been seen by the perfect collector yet. I like this quote because it reminds me that instead of having negative thoughts towards the piece, I need to show it some love. I need to highlight it in a new way, perhaps photograph it in a different setting or explain its meaning & inspiration in a way I hadn’t tried before.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a Key West based artist who creates hand cut paper artworks. Much of my subject matter is inspired by the natural side of the Florida Keys, the quirky architecture of Key West and the colors of the surrounding coastal environment. My medium is different than most artists in my area which sets me apart and makes my work stand out. I use a knife similar to a scalpel to hand cut my designs from a solid piece of paper. This medium is not overly common in the United States so I love explaining it to people who are not familiar with this style of art. I enjoy creating art in a way that is different and less known- the look of wonder people get when they realize I cut everything by hand and it is not machine made – that look of awe is what it is all about for me!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
To eat: El Siboney for casual Cuban food, brunch (or happy hour) at Moon Dog Cafe, tapas at Santiago Bodega, fancier dinner out at Lola’s Bistro and The Little Pearl.

Drinks at The Champagne Room, General Horseplay, and The Roost. Sunset Tiki for casual spot on the water with a great sunset view. Causal outdoor happy hour at Conch Republic.

Art: Sacred Space Gallery, Key West Pottery, The Studios of Key West, the Shops at Mallory Square.

Visit: the gardens at Higgs Beach, Ft Zachary Taylor, the Butterfly Conservatory, Nancy Foresters Secret Parrot Garden.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Barbara Sage of Whimsy Key West is a local artist that started selling her artwork a few years before I did. About 5 years ago, I was working in a bed & breakfast that had a flier of hers on display and I remember thinking her marketing and brand were so professional – I aspired to be like that if I ever sold my art one day. We started chatting a few months later about the idea of me selling some of my art and she was nothing but encouraging. She answered any question I had and gave me her contact information so I could reach out anytime. Her initial support, as well as many others in this community, gave me the confidence to say “Hey, I am an artist. I make this and it is worthwhile.” Little did we know at the time that we would become business partners in 2020 and open a gallery, Sacred Space, together. Shout out to Barb, thank you for always being my cheerleader.

Website: lucyhawkart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucyhawkart/

Image Credits
Myself Lucy Hawk, Nick Doll Photography, John Hoover.