Cranford, New Jersey resident Cynthia A. Dawley is the heiress to one of America's most profound artists, Joseph William Dawley. One can truly say history and DNA has played a profound role in the destination of the life of Cynthia. Her grandmother, Frances Marie Hicks Dawley, mother of the late Joseph W. Dawley, was the powering spirit for this journey of fine arts. Frances painted beautiful watercolors and oils, however, she never pursued a life as a professional artist.
Joseph William Dawley did pursue a life as a professional artist, and quite successfully. Joseph focused in oils and began his professional career painting in the traditional realistic manner. After developing Parkinson's Disease he eventually was forced to change his style of painting. This is when he turned to Impressionism, creating sensational paintings that are collected internationally. Some of Joseph's accolades include the official portrait of Mother Seton, having a painting in The White House, and being part of many prestigious collections throughout the world.
It was not immediately clear that Cynthia would follow in these footsteps, but, as a young adult, she found herself drawn to the oils in her father's home-based studio. A chance opportunity to use her father's paints and studio one Sunday afternoon was all it took for Cynthia to find her calling. Unlike her father, Cynthia never studied art nor did she ever take a formal lesson. It was all part of her heritage; Cynthia would become the torch bearer, carrying forth the legacy of a great man's works, while creating her own place amongst the 21st century masters.
Working solely in oils in the impressionistic style, Cynthia has exhibited her works through galleries nationally, and is included in numerous private and public collections. Her works have also been used on the corporate level by such companies as Cartier, Colavita, and the HBO series The Sopranos.
When attending one of Cynthia's openings, one can clearly sense the artist paints not only what she sees, but what she feels and has experienced. Her exquisite use of color and light masterfully reflect life's beauty, complexities, and simplicities onto a canvas, creating paintings that speak from and to the heart.