Meet Linda

BIOGRAPHY

Linda grew up in Thunder Bay Ontario, and moved with her Family to Calgary AB in 1963. A love of drawing, as a child, was unfortunately not explored as an adult, until Linda attended a local ‘Paint Night’ in 2016. This reawakened her love of artistic expression and creativity. Workshops and Art Classes followed, studying with well-known local Artists.

Linda’s love of nature, animals, gardening and photography help to provide her with her diverse subject choices. Linda also works with many professional photographers who contribute reference material, including 4 time award winner Jesse Irwin, Randy Hall, Lee-Anne Murakami, and Tracy Kerestesh.

A recent Commission to do a memorial tribute Portrait of a friend’s beloved pet has blossomed into a love of ‘Pet Portraiture’. Linda states, “Seeing the joy and happiness a client feels, when they see my tribute painting, makes this all worthwhile. It is the most rewarding part!

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

I am a Photorealist painter, promoting the art that I love, with Fine Art Realism. Each painting captures a moment in time, a memory, or a beloved pet that has possibly passed on, evoking emotion in the viewer. I strive to have my paintings look like what I actually see, and not only capture attention with their detail and accuracy, but to attempt to bring out the personality of the subject(s). Animals are my favorite for this reason. As Paulo Coelho stated,
“The eyes are the mirror of the soul and reflect everything that is hidden. Like a mirror, they also reflect the person looking into them.”

CURRICULUM VITAE

Linda started painting in 2016.

Initially self-taught, Linda has studied with Holly McWilliams and Loretta Secord, at Swinton’s Gallery in Calgary. She also studied with David N. Kitler, a Nature and Wildlife Artist in De Winton, AB.

Linda has taken numerous Workshops on Mixed Media, Pour Medium, and Resin.

Linda was accepted into the prestigious International Guild of Realism (IGOR) in 2020, and has shown her work at the Okotoks Art Gallery, The Calgary Stampede, and in competition through The American Art Awards (AAA).

She also has paintings and Macrame pieces hanging at the Highwood Gallery in High River.

 AWARDS

2023 Wins:
  • 2nd Place – “Still Waters” – Animal Realism
  • 3rd Place – “God’s Amazing Paintbrush” – Floral Realism
  • 3rd Place – “Bedouin Elder” – Portrait of Someone Not Famous
  • 3rd Place – “Bedouin Elder” – Acrylic Human Figure
  • 4th Place – “Bedouin Elder” – Fashion
  • 5th Place – “Wild Heart” – Portrait of Someone Not Famous”
  • 5th Place – “Fenced In” – Photo – Landscape
2022 Wins:
  • 1st Place – Non-Manipulated Photography – Landscape – “Fenced In”
  • 3rd Place – Non-Manipulated Photography – Landscape – “Early Morning Calm”
  • 3rd Place – Portrait of Someone Not Famous – “Wild Heart”
  • 4th Place – Humorous  – “They Call Me Wheels”
  • 4th Place – Acrylic Human Figure – “Wild Heart”
  • 4th Place – Erotic Female – “Wild Heart”
  • 6th Place – Portrait of Someone Not Famous – “Missing You Mom”
Linda also had her Painting ‘Still Waters’ accepted into the International Guild of Realism On Line Fall Show this year.
220 paintings were chosen from close to 6500 entries.

Previous Wins:

  • ‘Nature’s Lace‘ – 2nd place – Acrylic Painting – The Calgary Stampede Arts Competition – 2019
                                  4th place Floral Realism – The American Art Awards 2020
  • ‘Bedouin Elder’ – Masterpiece Award – The American Art Awards 2020 (4 wins)
  • ‘Forever Friends’ – 2nd place Innovative – The American Art Awards 2020
  • ‘John Lennon’ – Ref Photo Philip Norman – 3rd place Portrait of Someone Famous – the American Art Awards 2020
  • ‘Tilly’ – 5th place Humorous – The American Art Awards 2020
  • “Little Miss Fashionista” – 3rd Place – Portrait of Someone Not Famous Category
  • “Little Miss Fashionista” – 5th Place – Realism Human Category