Spotted Leopard, 1988

Renowned self-taught artist William Hawkins (1895-1990) is known for his graphic, large-scale images depicting animals, architecture, religious scenes and historic events. Spotted Leopard, like many of his animal-centric works, was likely inspired by a print source. In addition to arresting color palettes and rich, pooled paint surfaces, Hawkins's best works can incorporate unconventional artmaking materials, seen here with the inclusion of cornmeal under the top layer of enamel. This built-up, grainy texture provides mass to the animal and evokes the leopard's fur. Hawkins painted decorative borders directly on his pieces, and took great pride in his role as an artist, always signing his work in large block lettering. Here, a spotted border circles the Masonite, while the artist's name and birth date are prominently rendered along the work's lower edge.

Hawkins was raised on a farm in Kentucky and attended school through third grade. He moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1916, where he held jobs ranging from plumber to truck driver to brothel manager. He also served in the military during World War I. Although Hawkins began creating art in his thirties, he did not earn public recognition until 1981 when Columbus artist Lee Garrett first noticed and promoted his work.