Cynthia Barrett

Cynthia Bainton Barrett, 72, Artist With a Whimsical Touch, Dies

Cynthia Bainton Barrett, a gifted artist known for her imaginative greeting cards and creative spirit, died on Jan. 18 in Wake Forest, N.C., after a long illness. She was 72.

Born Oct. 4, 1952, in Burlington, Vt., Ms. Barrett grew up in Woodbridge, Conn., the second of six children. From a young age, she channeled her creativity into painting, sculpture and handmade barrettes. She studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, where she earned degrees in color styling and greeting card design.

Ms. Barrett found a niche blending her love of nature and drawing into a series of greeting cards for Recycled Paper Greetings, featuring her signature whimsical "Hokey Bird." Friends and family knew her as the quiet heart of any gathering-crafting photo books, decorating with flair, and offering warmth and insight.

Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her twenties, Ms. Barrett participated in a pioneering lithium study at Yale New Haven Hospital. The treatment helped her lead a rich, creative life for over five decades, though not without physical costs.

In 1989, she married Keith Barrett, her devoted husband of 35 years. The couple lived in North Carolina and Florida. In addition to Mr. Barrett, she is survived by four siblings, a niece, and three nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, a sister, and her grandmother, with whom she is buried in Woodbridge, Conn.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.