About
I’m Cindy Bilbao, a coastal artist working in acrylic and watercolor. I enjoy painting both semi-abstract and fully abstract scenes inspired by the beauty of watery places. My creative life has taken many forms: as a photographer, author and artist, but my inspiration has always come from nature and the ever-changing seashore.
Born and raised in New York’s Hudson Valley, I’ve long been drawn to water, from the Hudson River to the shores of New England. Over the years, various coastlines such as Maine, Cape Cod, Cape May and others as far south as Florida have become deeply rooted in my imagination and continue to shape may art.
Currently, I’ve been working on a series of watercolor and mixed-media paintings after spending my summer traveling to the coast. I’ve been inspired to focus on waves and the movement of the surf and I’m exploring ways to capture motion and energy in my new work through expressive brushwork and more vibrant color palettes.
I’ve also been sketching more than ever before, taking time to slow down and truly appreciate the natural scenery around the coast. This renewed focus on observation and process has been deeply rewarding. I had the opportunity to lead a sketchbook retreat for a small group on Sedge Island, New Jersey in collaboration with NJDEP Fish and Wildlife staff, where we sketched the beautiful marshlands while learning about salt marsh ecology. I plan on continuing to seek out other experiences like this in the future because they combine my love of art, nature and sharing creativity with others.
About my paintings
Lately I’ve been working in soft greens and tide-washed blues—colors that instantly make me think of quiet waves and slow coastal mornings. I like to start with loose marks to capture the energy of the water. Then I’ll begin to layer the watercolor, letting the colors blend in a wet-on-wet wash. When I paint like this, I don’t plan an end result. I just let the brush wander and see what wants to appear. It feels a bit like painting the feeling of waves instead of the waves themselves… letting the water guide the moment.
Beach Combing Magazine & Beach Reads
One formative chapter of my creative life was the eight years I spent contributing to Beachcombing Magazine. A lifelong coastal reader, I’ve always been drawn to books about life near the water. When the magazine first began (originally known as Glassing Magazine), I was invited to write a feature column reviewing beach-inspired books—an opportunity I embraced with enthusiasm.
I especially loved the process of selecting each book, spending time with it, and writing a review in hopes of helping others find a beach read they’d truly enjoy—whether for a quiet winter afternoon or a summer day by the shore. While Beach Reads is no longer a regular magazine feature as of 2026, my passion for coastal reading continues. Please feel free to reach out if you’re ever in need of a good book recommendation.
About The Sea Glass Searchers Club
My creative journey has always been shaped by the shore. In 2014, that connection took form as the Sea Glass Searchers Club, born from my love of beachcombing, sea glass, and the quiet joy of photographing the treasures I found along the beach.
That work led to a publishing partnership with Countryman Press and the creation of three books, as well as years of traveling to shows and festivals and connecting with a vibrant coastal community through SGSC. It was a joyful season—one that fit naturally into my life while raising my family.
Over time, as my children grew older, I felt myself being drawn back into the studio. Painting had always been my first love, and eventually it became clear that it was time to return to it fully. Cindy Joy Studio grew from that realization—a place where my love of the coast and my devotion to painting meet.