Cynthia Underwood
Star, Idaho | Pastel, Oil & Acrylic | Landscape & Wildlife
“Art can give you an escape to places of pleasanter things.” — Bill Kerr
Cynthia Underwood is an award-winning landscape and wildlife artist whose love of the outdoors has taken her across the country in pursuit of subjects to paint. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, and raised partly in Oklahoma and Texas, Cynthia now calls Star, Idaho, home.
An avid outdoor enthusiast, she travels extensively to paint and finds inspiration not only in the landscape but also in animals and wildlife. She works in three mediums—pastel, oil, and acrylic—using each to explore the beauty and character of the natural world.
Cynthia showed an artistic talent from an early age, winning numerous local and regional drawing competitions as a child. But it would be nearly four decades before she began painting professionally in 2009. Since then, she has developed an impressive national and international presence, participating in plein air invitationals from coast to coast and earning numerous awards, publications, exhibitions, and professional honors.
Painting En Plein Air
Travel and outdoor exploration are an important part of Cynthia’s artistic life. Her plein air experiences have taken her to diverse landscapes across the country, allowing her to observe and paint the natural world firsthand.
For Cynthia, painting is also about making choices. She considers the editing of a painting—deciding what to move, change, or leave out—one of the greatest challenges an artist faces. Her goal is to simplify and adjust what she sees while maintaining the balance and beauty of the original scene.
The Art of Editing
Cynthia believes that a successful painting isn’t necessarily a literal transcription of nature. Instead, the artist must interpret the scene, knowing what to emphasize and what to eliminate.
“I feel the editing of a painting is probably one of the biggest challenges for an artist—to move things around in nature and delete the right things and still maintain that perfect balance.”
That thoughtful approach allows her paintings to capture not only what a place looks like, but also the feeling and experience of being there.
A Few Highlights
Cynthia’s work has been recognized in exhibitions and competitions across the country. Among her many accomplishments are:
- 2022 National Museum Show, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, Wyoming, for Above the Clouds
- 2016 Plein Air Steamboat Springs, Art Museum, Award of Excellence
- 2015 Where in the World is Plein Air, Ilume Gallery Live Invitational
- 2014 Cogswell Gallery, Vail, Colorado, solo exhibition, Expressions of Oil and Pastel
- 2011 Cover Artist, Best of Worldwide Charcoal, Pastel and Pencil Artists, Kennedy Publishing
Her work has also appeared in numerous art magazines and the 5th Annual Paint the Parks book and museum exhibition. She has achieved Signature and Master status in several national art societies and has been recognized as one of the best pastel artists internationally.
Beyond the Easel
Whether she is traveling to a new landscape, studying wildlife, or working closer to home in Idaho, Cynthia’s curiosity about the natural world continues to drive her work.
Her philosophy is beautifully summed up by a favorite saying from artist Bill Kerr:
“No matter what struggle you’re going through or heavy thoughts you have, art can give you an escape to places of pleasanter things.”
Website: cynthiaunderwoodartist.com
