Erin Hawkins: Connecting and Coloring Macon
Held Here: Presence in Profile is a series highlighting the artists, archivists, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who continue to shape Macon’s cultural identity. Each subject is someone who didn’t just leave a mark—they planted roots. Through their work, presence, and persistence, they’ve helped preserve the city’s creative spirit for the next generation.
This installment features Erin Hawkins, muralist, illustrator, and community connector whose work has transformed walls, hearts, and neighborhoods across Macon. As the artist behind Mama Hawk Draws and founder of Tanglewood Art Studios, Hawkins blends bold visuals with bold vision—inviting others, especially young creatives, to see themselves in color. From public murals to mentorship programs, she brings art off the canvas and into the community, shaping not just the look of the city but its future.
Erin Hawkins didn’t move to Macon to make a name for herself. But after ten years of murals, mentorship, and quiet community-building, her name is woven into the fabric of the city—painted across crosswalks, brick walls, shop windows… and the hearts of countless people she’s brought together.
She’s Mama Hawk of Mama Hawk Draws: an artist, graphic designer, mother of three, civic partner, co-founder of 478 Creatives, founder of Tanglewood Art Studios, and maybe most of all Macon’s vital connector.
Erin painting her cheerful “Hello” mural — a burst of color and kindness to greet Brookdale Resource Center's residents and visitors with joy.
“I love to bring people together and see what grows from it,” Erin says.
A more formal title for Erin is community organizer, working behind the scenes, organically connecting folks even though she’s naturally introverted.
Erin spins at the center of Macon’s cultural machine like a wheel that never wobbles.
She touches nearly everyone — knowing exactly who to introduce to whom, which artist should meet which business owner, and what cross-pollination will bloom from a single thoughtful link.
Being a connector makes Erin deeply generous. It’s no small gift to stand back while helping others shine — but that’s her way. She rarely takes credit, brushing off praise, preferring to blend back into the swirl of artists, students, neighbors, and dreamers she keeps lifting up.
When Erin does step into the spotlight, it’s to serve something bigger than herself — like the joyful dance she spun at ArtSpace Macon, arms whirling loops in her bright pink sundress to draw the city in for a Rainbow Show opening. Even if her dance embarrassed her kids, to Erin it was worth every spin: a living invitation to celebrate local art and community color at ArtSpace Macon. And she looked adorable, like a flamingo!!
Stylin’
Erin’s style is colorful, quirky, and deeply human — every piece invites the viewer to feel included, curious, and seen. Over time, she’s claimed that whimsy even more:
“I’ve embraced the whimsy in my work and leaned more into my graphic design background — I love pieces that are ‘sticker clean,’ with sharp, crisp edges and bold shapes.”
She’s always been drawn to themes of community, joy, and belonging, and loves to weave in hidden personal touches — her kids’ initials, nods to local culture, or a symbol that means something to her client.
Erin’s large-scale street mural for Bike Walk Macon in 2019—a bold map design that marked her entry into public art and helped launch her mural journey.
A Purpose in Paint… and People
Her murals are found across Macon, from school hallways to street corners.
One of Erin’s most visible murals is the bold, musical mural painted directly on Cherry Street, in front of The Rookery. In collaboration with Bike Walk Macon, the mural enhances a once-overlooked crosswalk and celebrates Macon’s musical legacy. Notes from Little Richard’s “Southern Child” swirl along a painted blue river, painted by 60 local volunteers under Erin’s direction.
That cross-walk mural is civic safety through storytelling, and it’s beautiful.
She was thrilled to be selected as one of four artists creating murals around town for Bike Walk Macon in 2019.
“The only constraint was to stay within a specific color palette,” Erin says of planning that mural. “But the design could be whatever I wanted.”
Erin painted a map of Macon with an orange background and yellow roadways, and the blue Ocmulgee curving through. She and three assistants painted the mural in 10 hours, learning it takes a LOT of paint to ensure car tires don’t slide.
That project kicked off her public art journey and became “a crosswalk that cracked something open in me,” she says. Since then, Erin has helped shape the city’s streets with collaborative murals that make downtown feel safer, more walkable, more ours.
Her very first mural in Macon, commissioned by 7th Street Salvage, sparked her love for murals and launched a whole new chapter in Erin’s creative work.
“The Wall of Sevens at 7th Street Salvages’s warehouse building took way longer than I expected,” Erins says, “but I loved every minute of it, and am still incredibly grateful to Catherine and Brent for trusting me with such a wild idea.”
She also painted a giant welcome to folks arriving at Macon’s Middle Georgia Regional Airport in 2019 after receiving a grant from the Community Foundation of Central Georgia.
Many years, wild ideas, and murals later, Erin was honored with Bike Walk Macon’s Impact Award in 2025, recognizing her for “shaping Macon’s streetscape through collaborative murals and for uplifting other local creatives.”
To Erin, it’s never just about beautifying walls — it’s about solving problems, inviting neighbors to feel connected, and reminding people that this place is theirs.
Empowering Young Artists
That’s Erin’s gift—using art to beautify and connect. She works often with children and teenagers, helping them turn blank walls into vibrant affirmations of identity and place. At Brookdale Resource Center, she guided young painters in transforming transitional housing into a place of color and welcome.
She’s helped students at SOAR Academy design and paint murals to uplift their community and support anti-violence messaging.
“The kids [at SOAR Academy] taught me so much about resilience, creativity, and the power of being seen,” Erin says. “That project helped me clarify that I want my business to focus more on uplifting and empowering young people through art.”
With students at SOAR Academy in front of a mural they co-created under Erin’s guidance. The project focused on identity, resilience, and anti-violence messaging.
Erin’s very first mural at Howard Middle School is another project that’s stuck with her.
“I’ll never forget seeing kids walk down the hall with their friends,” Erin says, “proudly pointing out the parts they helped paint. That moment reminded me how powerful it is to create opportunities for young people to feel ownership and pride in their environment.”
Mama Hawk at Work
Her design roots run deep: She earned a BFA in Graphic Design from James Madison University and later left behind a corporate Art Director role to launch Mama Hawk Draws in 2013.
“I wanted to make art that mattered, and help other people tell their stories,” Erin says.
In addition to working with kids, teens, city orgs, and churches, Erin also loves helping new businesses find their voice through branding and murals that invite people in.
In 2025, Erin launched Tanglewood Art Studios, a space she shares with fellow artist Kevin Lewis at SoPop Studios. It’s a nod to her childhood, a hub for collaboration, and a launchpad for what’s next.
She plans to host workshops and events blending art, mindfulness, and community — anything that strengthens connection and invites people to be themselves. And right alongside her? Studio manager Alyson, the “absolute rockstar” who Erin says keeps the place organized, humming, and full of kindness.
She and Cara Heard co-host 478 Creatives, a growing network of artists and makers in Middle Georgia who meet monthly in Macon.
Erin designed this Call for Art announcement for a 478 Creatives art show co-sponsored with Macon Rising and Tanglewood Art Studios. A print is available for purchase on her website, along with her other art prints, stickers, original artwork, etc., and you can also learn more about hiring Erin for your projects!
“Macon’s art scene has grown more connected, visible, and valued over the past decade,” Erin says. “478 Creatives has helped by advocating for artists to have a seat at the table in big community conversations. We’re building real community where there wasn’t one before.”
Balancing public work with business and recharging her personal energy, Erin landed on a pragmatic solution that suits her introversion well. Mondays and Fridays are blocked off her calendar for catching up on emails, sketching, and simply creating for fun, because creating for fun was a big part of opening her studio.
“Balancing creativity with business is definitely still a challenge,” Erin says, “and I’m always learning to better protect my energy.”
Design in Every Dimension
Erin’s design work doesn’t stop at murals and logos—it lives on stickers, shop windows, social campaigns, and even cotton.
One of her most beloved pieces is a limited-edition Macon, Georgia t-shirt she designed in collaboration with Visit Macon, was available at their Downtown Visitors Center on MLK Jr. Drive. The beautiful floral turntable design spins a perfect mix of whimsy and hometown pride—just like Erin herself.
Limited edition Macon, Georgia turntable tee, designed by Erin for Visit Macon’s Downtown Visitors Center. A perfect spin on Southern pride and style.
Erin’s ongoing creative relationship with Visit Macon reflects how deeply she’s woven into the city’s visual identity, helping shape the look and feel of how Macon is experienced by both locals and visitors alike.
Amped Up
These days, Erin’s hands are covered in paint from an ongoing love letter to Macon’s music scene: giant hand-painted cassette tapes that celebrate the bands who’ve graced The Atrium Health Amphitheater’s stage since its official opening act in March 2024… featuring Lynryd Skynyrd and ZZ Top performing. Each cassette Erin paints is its own nostalgic billboard — a nod to the days when mixtapes turned strangers into fans and songs into lifelines.
Like all her work, the cassettes remind Macon that every show and every performer deserves to be made big enough for everyone to see.
In Erin’s world, the mixtape never dies — it just gets larger than life and nailed to the wall, proof that Macon’s music memory keeps spinning at The Amp, one concert and one painted cassette after the other.
Rock legend Alice Cooper signing his custom cassette mural, part of Erin’s ongoing hand-painted tribute series at The Amp honoring each performing act.
Behind the Murals
People often assume the work is all paint and sunshine, but Erin’s quick to clarify:
“Most of my time is spent running a business — emails, proposals, budgeting, and scheduling. While I absolutely love what I do, being an artist is my job, and exposure doesn’t pay the bills. As a woman, I’ve had to push past the idea that creativity is just a hobby and constantly advocate for the value of my work.”
When business tasks are draining and her creative tank runs low, how does she recharge?
“A warm chai, a good book, or a quiet walk through a museum can work wonders,” she says. “Sometimes it’s yoga, meditation, or a really good nap — whatever helps me slow down and reconnect with myself.”
Her mantra for this year -- Glimmer — also helps her regulate her energy and attention.
“I’m learning to notice the little moments of joy and magic,” Erin says, “those tiny sparks that remind me I’m exactly where I need to be.”
Erin at Tanglewood Art Studios during a community sign-making event for Macon Rising’s “No Kings” protest. Her RESIST penguin blends boldness and whimsy—hallmarks of her visual activism.
Leader, Co-conspirator, Resistance Artist
Erin shows up for her city in countless ways — from those mural projects and civic engagement to grassroots activism like Macon Rising, when she hosted a sign-making party at Tanglewood Arts Studio. Community members made their powerful signs to wave during Macon’s “No Kings” peaceful protest.
Erin’s the artist people call when they want their town to feel like home. And she’s still dreaming: basketball court murals, vibrant brewery walls, cozy coffee shop corners. She wants to make sure every Southern artist knows they belong — and knows they can make their mark.
In fact, she wrote this love letter to creatives everywhere:
“Dear Fellow Artists,
Keep going. Your work matters, even on the days it feels like no one sees it. Stay curious, stay playful, and don’t be afraid to take up space — your voice, your vision, and your weird, wonderful ideas are needed in the world.
And remember, rest is part of the process too.
ERIN HAWKINS”
With her high-impact work demanding her presence, Erin turns her introversion into extroversion when called upon, like a super hero putting on her cape.
“Standing up in front of a group isn’t my natural state,” Erin says. Yet, she leads with quiet confidence. As that natural-born connector, she relishes each introduction she makes and approves of new ideas sparking from those unions.
Erin reacts to seeing her feature in The Macon Melody, by Michael W. Pannell, highlighting her murals, design work, and community impact.
Whip-Smart and Wonderfully Macon
Ask around Macon, and you’ll hear it: Erin Hawkins is someone you say “yes” to, because she’s already said “yes” to you.
She is a fan of flamingos and queso, and a champion of women in business. Her wardrobe is typically yoga pants speckled in paint with a messy top knot, and her smile is most often caught in group photos, beaming beside her fellow artists, neighbors, or young students covered in color.
And why flamingoes?
“Pink, of course — but also because they’re so delightfully awkward, which I connect with. There’s something charming about how they stand tall in all their weirdness — I love that.”
Makin’ Macon Bright
In a city constantly changing, Erin helps shape not just how Macon looks — but how it feels: inclusive, collaborative, and bright. A place where people know they belong because someone cared enough to bring them together.
Mama Hawk doesn’t raise her voice. She raises the street.
Erin is Held Here through the colorful ties she’s knotted between people and place — steady at the center of Macon’s creative hum… and occasionally dancing.
Why Held Here
Erin Hawkins paints connection—threading color through the corners of Macon most folks used to overlook. She’s turned walls into welcome signs, studios into safe spaces, and passing ideas into permanent art. She listens like it matters. Lifts others as she climbs. And she reminds a whole city that making something beautiful is also an act of service. Erin is held here in Macon — in brushstrokes, backdrops, and the belief that creativity belongs to everyone.
Erin’s Details
Instagram Handle: @mamahawkdraws_ / @tanglewoodartstudios
Website: mamahawkdraws.com / tanglewoodartstudios.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamahawkdraws/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emhawkins/
About the Author
Cindi Brown is a Georgia-born writer, porch-sitter, and teller of truths — even the ones her mama once pinched her for saying out loud. She runs Porchlight Press from her 1895 house with creaking floorboards and an open door for stories with soul. When she’s not scribbling about Southern music, small towns, stray cats, places she loves, and the wild gospel that hums in red clay soil, you’ll find her out listening for the next thing worth saying.
