When I was a young girl, I wanted to be an actress. I loved old movies.  Sarah Bernhardt was a hero, so much so her contemporaries nicknamed her "The Divine Sarah". She said, "Life begets life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich." This became my motto. It is not “things” that make us rich, but how we experience what we experience. Now later in my life, another woman by the name of Bernhardt inspires me.

Cindi Bernhardt, who is no relation to the famous actress, is an amazing woman with a hot passion for life and art that continues to ignite a flame that spreads her warmth of hope to anyone fortunate enough to enter her world.

Two months ago I was kicking around some story ideas for BLUES JUNCTION with David Mac. He suggested that I might want to write about Cindi Bernhardt. He began to tell me who she is. I immediately became excited. I was ecstatic at the prospect of having the opportunity to spend some time with this incredible woman and to tell others her story.

I remember first meeting Cindi at the old Cafe Boogaloo in Hermosa Beach, CA a couple of years ago, where we had both gone to see the multi-talented, Louisiana based, blues musician and activist Tab Benoit perform. Someone had pointed Cindi out to me and said, "See that woman in the wheelchair. She's an artist who paints with her mouth." Being incredibley intrigued and not the least bit shy, I approached her and introduced myself. I noticed that she had a painting with her. We exchanged a few pleasantries, and I asked her if I could look at it. It was a painting of Tab Benoit. It was unbelievable to me that a painting of that caliber could be done with one’s mouth.

I drove home later that night thinking about what kind of strength it would take to paint with one’s mouth. I don't mean jaw strength. I mean grit, fortitude and determination. What kind of inner strength must it take to live in a state of possibility rather than a state of loss?

When I contacted Cindi a few weeks ago for this story she spoke to me as though we had known one another forever. She is easy going and has a great sense of humor. This I found thrilling because I want to know that secret. I want to know what it is that makes some of us become resigned when we reach a place in our lives that changes us so drastically. Why do some of us succumb to the circumstances in our lives? Why do others, given the same physical circumstances, not just thrive but bloom?

Cindi Bernhart was born and raised in Southern California just outside of Los Angeles. She was an all-American girl, growing up with a love of gymnastics and dance. Then suddenly everything changed.

At the age of eighteen, Cindi suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of a gymnastics accident. She was left paralyzed from the neck down. It was during her physical rehabilitation that she realized her artistic talent.

I asked her how it came about that she began painting with her mouth. Cindi said, “I didn't want to be just another X on a page.” She went on to say, "In 1981 there were no computers or electronic devices to hone one’s skills for future employment, so my focus was mainly on physical exercise. I was told by a therapist I would need to learn how to write with a pen held between my teeth, otherwise I would have to sign legal documents or cards as the letter X. I certainly didn’t want to be known as an ‘X’ so that spurred me on and led me to the challenge and discovery of my artistic ability. I used to like to paint ceramics and paint by numbers. I laugh at that now. I never knew I had “the gift” because I was too active as a young girl."

Since that time, Cindi has not put down the brush. Her accomplishments and credits are wide and varied. She expresses her love of music, people, her faith and her country through her art. Looking at her pieces on line enlightened me as to what Cindi is all about. One can see inside of Cindi’s spirit by looking at her art.

JJ: What are some accomplishments that you are most proud of?

CB: In 2002 I was asked by the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Association ("MFPA")  to submit my "Eagle" painting which I started work on immediately after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This painting was used as an insert in the New York Times to express our appreciation for all firemen and policemen and civil service workers.

In 2004 I had the honor of presenting Academy Award winning actor Morgan Freeman with a painting of a “Shotgun Shack”. We had dinner at his restaurant in Clarksdale, MS and afterward were fortunate enough to spend some time with him. He is such a nice man as well as a talented actor.

In 2008, I had the great fortune to paint a portrait of B.B. King. He autographed it for me.

The very next year I painted Tab Benoit’s portrait which raised $500 for his Voice of the Wetlands organization. This was a fun project because I knew I would be staring into such a handsome face from a photograph in order to do the painting.

In December of 2009 I mailed a painting entitled “Rendering Honors” to the Fort Hood army base in Texas as my way of paying tribute to the 12 soldiers killed and 31 wounded by an Army psychiatrist a few months earlier. It now hangs in the family center at Fort Hood."

JJ: I know that you are a big fan of music, especially the blues. I remember seeing the painting of Tab Benoit and being floored. What other musicians have you painted and which are your favorites?

CB: So far the blues musicians that I painted are B.B. King’s drummer, Tony Coleman. Charlie Musselwhite, Hubert Sumlin, JW Jones, and the hands of Buddy Guy in a series that I call “Playing Hands” which hangs in a private collection.

As far as favorites go, one of my very favorites is a combination of Canadian blues musician JW Jones alongside his favorite (as well as mine) Hubert Sumlin. When I see a good face, I want to paint it. I like faces that express complete joy. You can often tell just by looking into a person’s eyes. Hubert Sumlin’s face fits that description. I was commissioned to do this piece and enjoyed every minute and every hour that went into it. 

The same inspiration went into the painting of Bob Corritore entitled “Hands & Harmonica”. A photo taken by Mike Lovato at The Cajun and Blues Festival last year in Simi Valley, CA inspired me to paint Bob’s hands. 

JJ: Who would you like to paint in the future? 

CB: I’d like to do a series of spiritual pieces based on the movie "The Passion of The Christ". I would also do some more in my blues series “Playing Hands.” I hope to do a portrait of Candye Kane very soon. I would also like to do a piece of one of my favorite bass players, Bob Stroger. 

JJ: How would you describe your style?

CB: (Laughter)My medium is watercolor and my style is realism with a right jaw twist. I really do tend to hold the paint brush on the right side of my jaw, I guess because I was right handed before my accident.

JJ: Who has inspired you the most through the years since you have been painting?

CB: Artistically, I admire Diane Russell from Oregon who is by far the greatest artistic inspiration. I am also moved by Norman Rockwell, and Wyland, the marine life artist. I love the great masters of course. I have been most influenced by my mother who has always been the wind beneath my wings in the art world. She has taken me to many art classes and has been my most constructive critic. I also have to give a lot of credit to my art teacher Linda Lee whose voice I still hear giving me instructions as I paint.

JJ: What are you working on currently? 

CB: I paint for The MFPA. I am currently filling requested paintings for them.

JJ: Describe yourself to me in five words. 

CB: Five words…OK let me try…determined, loyal, gregarious, spiritual and blessed.

Those five words give you some idea what makes Cindi special and what makes her tick. After all, it is by spending oneself through gregarious determination and with an understanding that we are blessed, that makes us rich.

Editor’s Note: To learn more about Cindi and her art visit the links page on this site. There you will also find a link to the MFPA.