16 WEST COAST WOMAN <strong>AUGUST</strong> <strong>2023</strong> Aworking artist and art instructor in Sarasota, Linda’s work is collected around the world and has received numerous awards. “For me, painting is a pilgrimage – a journey into the soul and the mystery of creation. Through color, lines and brushstrokes I portray the essence of my subjects at their highest moments.”
TTe Graauate She’s a working artist and an art instructor in Sarasota. As you know, there are lots and lots of artists in our area, two large art centers and dozen of galleries. So what makes this artist stand out? Well, lots of awards for one thing, and her art is exhibited here and on Martha’s Vineyard and in collections across the U.S. Linda also teaches art classes online, locally and by taking groups abroad. Her subject matter is landscapes, painted in oils. They’re vibrant images — maybe even vibrating — because the colors are so striking. From Linda’s website, “For me, painting is a pilgrimage – a journey into the soul and the mystery of creation. Through color, lines and brushstrokes I portray the essence of my subjects at their highest moments. Each color, line and shape is carefully curated to take the viewer on a joyous journey.” And that’s what makes this artist different. A painting she did entitled “Bay Shore Dusk” that includes a view of the Bay Shore area of Sarasota (south of The Ringling Museum) won Plein Air Magazine’s “Best Landscape” in the Plein Air Salon in 2021. I lived in that neighborhood and loved how she captured the curve and the views, its natural beauty and energy. This skilled artist’s plein air paintings “capture the spirit of nature at their most inspiring times,” she explains. Linda has been conducting painting workshops since 2002 in the US and abroad. Her workshops abroad have been to Greece, Italy and this past July, to Southern France. Prior to departing, she teaches her students online and then they travel to their destination, paint together and then critique after dinner. The call to create came early in Linda’s life — make that really early as she recalls being age two when she remembers thinking, ”I am an artist!” She had her first portrait commission at age 16 and excelled in competitions. She graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art from SUNY and followed that with a scholarship from the Pastel Society of America to attend the Art Students League in New York City. There were no galleries in her hometown of Montgomery, New York, so she’d travel to places like the Met in New York City or abroad to the Louvre in Paris. Not sure of her direction, she “tried business” as she puts it, working at IBM, even did detective work, but generally didn’t like it. However, a stint with Mary Kay Cosmetics taught and gave her the self esteem she was lacking. A pivotal moment in her life came when Linda was living in Parkland, Florida, when a strange package and unexpected package was left at her door. Fortunately, the police came and the package turned out to be harmless, but she recalls saying to herself, “I’m going to die and not be an artist.” She made a course correction in her life and dedicated herself to her art and became a full-time artist. As with artists, her career evolved from pastel portraits to Plein Air painting. When Linda describes Plein Air (defined as a style of painting produced out of doors in natural light) she describes it as “the feelings” of the outdoors and not just the look of outdoors. She also found that Mother Nature was the healing energy she needed. This began her realization that art can help us to heal. Thus her teaching and unique approach centers on “closing down the logical, critical mind and going to the intuitive.” Doing so facilitates “accessing the muse within,” as she explains it. “I see what I see, but I feel the color. It’s not what you see — it’s what you feel.” Linda offers online instruction called “Landscape Alchemy” where students can learn “how to transform sketches into a poetic body of art.” She describes the course this way: “The truth is, you can learn the secrets to masterful landscape storytelling by delving deep into the alchemy of design, color, and message, a powerful combination that will bring your landscape to life. The trick is to transfer what you know onto your canvas.” Linda is busy with her art not just teaching, but also working on painting commissions. This past summer she had four assisting her including three interns. In addition to her annual European art retreats, she has had various workshops through out the years that are 2-3 days in length. She’s taught at ArtCenter Sarasota and ArtCenter Manatee locally, as well as around the country. And she’s working on a book. “With years and years of classical training under my belt, my hand can easily follow my heart when creating a work of art that not only represents the scene, but also allows the soul of the place to come forth.” Linda was voted America’s Best Intuitive Artist in 2012 because one of her gifts is her highly intuitive sense. Students are often a bit intimidated by learning a creative art — especially for the first time. But with a teacher who believes that we can all create when we shut down the logical, critical mind and open ourselves to the intuitive, allowing our creative side to emerge, it seems a lot less daunting. “The answers are in us,” she says. STORY: Louise Bruderle IMAGE (THIS PAGE): Sorcha Augustine For more information, visit www.richichiart.com. Linda’s work is on display locally at 530 Burns Gallery Lane Sarasota and at Nikki Sedacca Gallery, 23 Winter Street, Edgartown, MA. Auuust 17-27, <strong>2023</strong> Auuust 17-27, <strong>2023</strong> Shopping for a financial advisor? We help our clients achieve their financial goals by listening closely to their concerns, asking smart questions to identify their financial worries and coach them to understand market risk. Call today 941.914.1560 Amanda E. Stiff, MBA Financial Advisor AccessAdvisorsLLC.com 941 914-1560 | Astiff@AccessAdvisorsLLC.com 1800 Second St. Suite 895 Sarasota, FL 34236 | 1305 Langhorne Rd. Lynchburg, VA 24503 Securities are offered through Level Four Financial, LLC a registered broker dealer and member of FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services are offered through Level Four Advisory Services, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Level Four Financial, LLC, Level Four Advisory Services, LLC and Access Advisors, LLC are independent entities. Neither Level Four Financial, LLC, Level Four Advisory Services, LLC nor Access Advisors, LLC offer tax or legal advice. <strong>AUGUST</strong> <strong>2023</strong> WEST COAST WOMAN 17
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