Born in the Appalachian Mountains, memories of lush-timbered slopes and childhood misfortune have become the inspiration for many of her haunting oil paintings. Although her choice of content often varies, these unalterable recollections still underlie each decision made concerning form, color, and brush stroke.
Mostly self-taught, Linda received formal art training at Kent State University with one professor instilling in her the love of creating and promoting art. She has spent the last thirty years happily fulfilling her dream.
Living in Zanesville, Ohio, Linda's treetop studio is located on the third floor of the ARTZ Building, a renovated historical armory at 814 Elberon Avenue, is where she continues to pass on her knowledge of art to private students and to produce an ongoing series of multi-media works. These powerful, disturbing, yet beautiful paintings detail not only childhood misadventures on her beloved mountain but also portray the fantasy world that offered her an escape from poverty and heartbreak. Many others address contemporary issues adversely affecting women while others are visual commentary on the way females are perceived and judged by the media.
Linda also uses these oil and mixed media paintings as visual aids when speaking with teachers and students, as well as groups who rescue women and children from abuse. She recently lectured at OUZ to teachers, K through 12 from sixteen counties, about roadblocks to learning, along with presentations, exhibits, and lectures at Muskingum College, OUZ Library, the Muskingum County Library, First Step, and RESPONSE.
Her work has also been showcased in solo exhibits at the Columbus Cultural Art Center, Delaware Cultural Art Center, Tree House Gallery, and many other private and university galleries.
Linda recently completed a written trilogy, part fictional, but loosely based on her childhood as seen through the eyes of an introverted mountain child, Lindy Cooper, and imaginary friend, playmate, and protector, Princess Twilight.