After graduating Crispus Attucks High School in 1931,[3] Hines worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps as a firefighter and subscribed to correspondence courses in art.

[5][6] Hines' paintings have been associated with the De Stijl movement often containing strong design elements, inspired by Cubism and the simplicity of Piet Mondrian.

As Hines became more influenced by American modernists, such as Stuart Davis, Ad Reinhardt, Josef Albers, Ellsworth Kelly, and Barnett Newman, he began to eliminate line from his compositions, focusing instead on simple shapes and a restrained color palette.

[9] Despite Hines' involvement with Spiral, he wanted his imagery to remain universal and not to be seen as having relevance exclusively to black social causes or to African Americans.

[4] Hines completed a two-year apprenticeship with Caroline and Sheldon Keck,[4] founders of the Conservation Center at New York University Institute of Fine Arts.

[4][12][9] Hines is commemorated by a State Historical Marker, installed at Crispus Attucks High School by Indiana Humanities in April 2023.