Misty Hawkins grew up in San Diego, California. Her work explores personal identity in intimate portraits and nudes. Her models are often friends, if not herself. At an early age she started drawing, with an interest in faces, using magazines and books. Later this grew into an interest in cultural ideas about the body informed by personal research and classes. In college she focused on Life drawing, painting, and literature courses and received a BA in Painting from San Diego State University. Misty had a desire to continue her formal study in art and experience living on the east coast. She moved Philadelphia to complete a Master's degree in Drawing and Painting from Tyler School of Art at Temple University in 2003. Next she lived and worked in Brooklyn and New York, mainly inspired to visit the museums and galleries. Misty returned to San Diego in 2005 to teach drawing courses for the San Diego Community College District and live close to family. She continues to paint in a private studio and exhibit her work.