BILL MARTIN - Mendocino Art Center

Linda Shearin
Photo by Larry Wagner
14
By Peggy Templer
Coast artist Linda Shearin grew up in San Francisco,
nurtured in an environment in which creativity was
expressed through crafts. She, like her mother, was
“always doing something” – hooking rugs, sewing quilts,
and other household crafts, but Linda was also always
drawing. At the age of 10 she went with a group of school
children to the de Young Museum and was so awestruck
by the van Gogh’s – the sunflowers, the starry skies – that
she knew then and there
that she wanted to be an
artist. She had at least one
inspirational art instructor
in high school, and after
graduation embarked on
a 25 year mission to take
every painting class or
workshop that she possibly
could.
The year 1992 was
a significant turning
point. Studying watercolor
painting simultaneously
with three influential
instructors – Jane
Hofstetter, Charlotte
Britton, and Patricia Akay
– Linda finally realized
that she
Land & Sea – acrylic, 24” X 24”
“really had something to offer.” She was involved with
the San Carlos Fine Arts Association and through them
had her first exhibition opportunities.
Linda and her husband came to Mendocino for their
20th wedding anniversary, and continued to vacation on
the coast. She discovered the Mendocino Art Center late
and almost by accident, when she ran out of paints! At
the end of her business career in the Bay Area in 2000,
Linda made a permanent move to Mendocino. She
began taking all kinds of
painting classes, at the
Art Center and College
of the Redwoods, from
Bob Rhoades, Nancy
Collins, Patti Osborne,
Judith Hale, Judith
Cunningham, and
the very influential
Bob Burridge. After
studying with him, she
began painting with
acrylics and pastels and
is only recently getting
back into watercolor.
Linda’s themes have
been wide ranging,
including florals, figures,
incredibly atmospheric
skyscapes and seascapes.
She will do as many as