Meet the Vendor: Edna Hayes Designs

By Sarah Hurley

Edna Hayes has always been an artist at heart. Discovering her early love for drawing and painting, her elementary school teachers often asked Edna to create artwork they needed for their classrooms. However, like many creatives, she chose not to pursue art full time as a career, instead working as a computer programmer for several years. However, when the company she worked for closed a few years ago, leaving Edna unemployed, she made the radical decision to enroll in the Milan Art Institute’s Online Mastery Program in hopes of improving her skills and becoming a professional artist.

“I never really knew how much art affects society and culture until I attended the Milan Art Institute,” Edna says, fondly recalling her time with the school. The Mastery Program, a self-directed digital learning platform designed to help aspiring artists develop their creative voice and vision, build a cohesive portfolio or sellable body of work, and launch their own successful business, gave Edna the confidence to pursue a full-time career in art. One of the requirements to graduate from the program is to establish one’s business and build a corresponding promotional website; thus, Edna Hayes Designs was born.

When painting, Edna consistently relies upon her personal life motto, “Look for the gold,” to drive her artistry. As someone who looks for silver linings in every situation life throws her way, Edna strives to create art that exudes hope, faith, and joy. Furthermore, she literally incorporates either gold leaf or gold paint into each of her paintings, alongside ink, acrylic paints, clear gel, modeling plaster, and music note motifs. Each of her pieces is finished with a layer of oil and varnish. Together, these materials result in boldly textured paintings that incorporate bright, vivid colors while still holding space for stillness and rest.

As an artist, Edna believes it is important to create and share art with a positive message. “I hope that my art will have a positive impact in someone’s life,” Edna says, “even if it is just small impact.”

When Edna joined the team of Minkology vendors in May of 2025, she was excited to have her work displayed in such a popular shop in her hometown of Asheboro, North Carolina. Going forward, she hopes to continue selling her artwork while refining her technical skills and personal voice as an artist. To commission a custom painting, complete this form on her website, where you can also explore her body of work. Otherwise, connect with Edna online via Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest.