Hawkins attended school for only three years. He moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1916.He drove truck and was a construction worker. Hawkins started painting in the 1930s but he couldn't pursue it at this time since his energies were needed for his work.

When Hawkins retired his energies went into his art. He had a natural talent for design and color. His tremendous ego is installed in all his works, signing each piece with his name and usually exclaiming "born Kentucky, July 27, 1895". He considered himself one of the greatest artists ever.

Hawkins worked on masonite or plywood. His earlier works were on irregularly shaped objects. Lee Garrett introduced Hawkins's works to the Ricco/Maresca Gallery in 1979. At this time he started producing mainly on boards cut for him. His work is bold and daring. He paints with semi-gloss enamel paint, using one brush and wiping it as he wishes. His subjects range from buildings, stadiums, animals (real and imagined) to religious subjects. He used collage when he felt it was important. Hawkins was a self-taught master painter.

N. F.  Karlins article 10/30/97