Cynthia Inson
b. 1948
Fresh and vibrant; the serenity of Cynthia Inson’s intimate landscapes extends beyond the picture plane. Her reverence for life and nature is evident in her playful combinations of color and confident brushstrokes. She feels “fortunate to be living in New Mexico, with the freedom to paint. I’d have it no other way.”
Inson is a keen observer of the natural world. She immerses herself in the “limitless source of inspiration Mother Nature has to offer. Everyday represents a new beginning, a new challenge and I wake eager to see whatever she may choice reveal to me.” Whether she’s out exploring the countryside or tending her garden at home; Inson feels compelled to capture with paint her response to natures variety of splendor.
A typical day for Inson starts with an excursion outdoors, paintbox in hand. She seeks New Mexico’s vast open spaces and swirling skies which she paints en plein air. Inson revels in the challenges of plien air painting. “You must work quickly,” she says. “Nature is always changing, always evolving. The breathtaking moments are spontaneous and fleeting. There’s no time to be timid or shy.” On average, Inson creates a fresh painting within an hour and a half.
Inson draws inspiration from The Hudson River School and original California plein air painters. Her undergraduate studies were in Studio Arts and Art History, with graduate studies in Cultural Anthropology and Southwest Archeology. She is currently the Events Director for the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico.
Cynthia was born and raised in Iola, Kansas. Her formal education includes a bachelor’s in Studio Arts and Art History and a master’s in Anthropology and Archaeology from Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas. Cynthia has been influenced by artists, but she credits the the Hudson River School and the early California Plein-air painters as having had the greatest impact on her plien air painting
