By Carol Mowdy Bond
Contributing Writer
Artist Cindy Bench’s paintings are coloring the nation. And she’ll soon have paintings on even more walls.
Bench is an art consultant who has worked for D & K Art Design, at 1213 Piedmont Road North in Piedmont, for over 20 years. An art consultant finds artwork and sculpture for healthcare, hospitality, and commercial industries.
“D & K Art Design provides artwork for large jobs all over the world, and works with several local artists,” Bench said. “The firm has provided artwork for some of the most prestigious projects all over the world. For example, Hotel Zaza in Dallas, Houston, and Austin, as well as Beau Rivage Hotel and Casino in Mississippi.
“Some local projects of note are the Edmond Convention Center, and Ambassador Hotels. We provide all the artwork for the over 1,000 Ruby Tuesday Restaurants all over the world. And the artwork for Marriott Hotels in the Caribbean.”
Through D & K, Bench’s art has made its way into Oklahoma City’s Colcord Hotel, the Skirvin Hilton, and the Courtyard Marriott, as well as numerous other Marriotts. Her art is also hanging in St. Anthony Hospital and INTEGRIS Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City.
She has numerous paintings about to go into the University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City, and United Regional Health Care System in Wichita Falls, Texas. And KFOR Channel 4’s Galen Culver spotlighted Bench in a segment of “Is This a Great State or What?”
D & K works primarily with interior design firms, interior designers, and architects.
“We ship everywhere,” Bench said. “And we do a lot of local artist framing. But the D & K location is not open to the public.”
Bench, who uses acrylics and other mediums, paints strictly on canvas.
And she said, “I’m mostly an abstract artist, and I prefer bright, colorful abstracts, although I do some landscapes. But, I painted a pig for a friend.”
Bench’s art career began early.
“I got in trouble when I was in the first grade because I turned my writing paper in with crayon colors above and below the text,” Bench said.
Time marched on, and then, “I worked with a very good artist in Dallas, Texas, who showed me some techniques.”
“I also paint a lot for fun,” Bench said. “And I sell a lot of my paintings.”
Bench lives in Canadian County between Piedmont and Yukon, where she enjoys her three horses, and spends a lot of time riding.
“My love of horses started when I was about five,” Bench said. “I started riding at age nine, and I got my first horse at age 12. I have five siblings, and none of them were interested in horses. My brother and one sister raised sheep. I had sheep in 4-H before I got my horse. I was very active in 4-H for many years.
“When I was too old for it, I became a 4-H leader for horses. I have always had horses since my first one. And when my husband asked me to marry him and move to Oklahoma, I told him my horses had to come with me. I still ride quite a bit all over Oklahoma.”
As an art consultant and artist, Bench said, “I love it. It has taken me to New York City about 25 times, among other major cities.”
To connect with Bench, email her at cindysbench@gmail.com or find her on Facebook at Cindy Bench (Cindy Meyers).
