Dancer in Blue

by Kelly Hawes

About The Artist

Photo of Samra
Kelly Hawes dances professionally as “Samra” in Wilmington, North Carolina. Her dance career started in 2001, due to the encouragement of her instructor and mentor, Andrea Deagon.

Kelly is also a professional artist. She graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1992 with a BA in Illustration, after completing a specialized study in children’s book illustration. In 1994, Kelly settled in Wilmington, North Carolina, to pursue a career in art. Her work appears in many private homes and businesses in Wilmington and surrounding areas.

Kelly’s work includes murals, canvases, business logos, product labels, product design, T-shirt design, and painted furniture. Kelly typically works in acrylic, guache, watercolor, pen and pencil. Her work can be bold and imaginative or delicate and organic. Her most vivid canvases simulate the appearance of Russian lacquer.

Kelly often shows an appreciation of the feminine form in her artwork. Inspired by her love of Middle Eastern dance, she is creating a series of canvases featuring joyful belly dancers of all shapes and sizes.

Photo of Samra

To contact the artist, please call (+1) (910) 794-5487. Kelly is a romantic . . . which is a kind way of saying she does not use computers and does not have direct access to e-mail. If you prefer to make inquiries by e-mail, please contact her friend and biggest fan, Sandra Jackson, at sandyfrances@juno.com.