Interview

May 3

Linda Woods

For Linda Woods, visual arts have been an interest that has developed over a lifetime. It has been a dream of hers to share her artwork with the world. She is a professional artist who started her own business in the art world with her own website. It gives her great pleasure, knowing that her paintings can be purchased on a variety of materials and in different sizes. These paintings can also be reproduced on merchandise, such as throw pillows, tote bags, coffee mugs, yoga mats, gift cards, coasters, phone cases, t-shirts, and tank tops.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I was born in Tucson, Arizona and was raised in the Salinas Valley of California. My three children, Chico Woods, Christopher Woods, and Chelsea Sproul were raised in the tiny California mission town of San Juan Bautista, California. Painting murals on store front windows during the holidays was a hobby of mine for nearly 20 years while teaching and raising my family. I came full circle and taught in the Salinas City Elementary school district where there is a predominantly Hispanic population. During my years teaching, there were many opportunities to teach language arts through the visual arts. In 2008, I wrote a grant to teach right brain modalities to my students with a focus on teaching them how to paint a variety of flowers. We entered a contest with the student artwork and 36 pieces were published in the book, Art Treasures, a tribute to young artists. The students learned how to paint flowers and learned the elements of art: line, shape, texture, balance, form and color. Dr Rob Slabey, our superintendent, commissioned me to design and paint murals in 12 of our district schools. I retired after 43 years of teaching, having given my students an appreciation for the arts.
My husband, John and I moved from the Central Coast of California to the Emerald Coast of Florida in 2019. Here we are captivated by the sugary white beaches and the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. From sunrise to sunset the beauty here is breathtaking.”

What inspires you?

“I am inspired by nature in all forms.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“I pursue themes in nature, such as flowers, trees and beach scenes. The only underlying message I have is that having a beautiful, natural, painting or merchandise with a painting reproduced on it, can create a calming and serene effect in one’s life.”

“My only hope is to bring pleasure with my art. I don’t have a social or political agenda of any sort.”

How would you describe your work?

“My work is generally realistic, although, in my website I have 4 galleries: Real Life, Still Life, Fantasy and Abstract.”

Which artists influence you most?

“The artist that have influenced me the most are Gauguin, Van Gogh, Seurat, Cezanne and Sonia Delaunay.”

What is your creative process like?

“I work with acrylic paints on canvas. I may go for walks and take several pictures , sometimes on the beach, sometimes in our nearby forests. When I’m touched, moved, and inspired, I will sit down and paint for days.”