Linda King
Maker Monday - July 2024
About the Artist
Name Linda King
Medium: mixed media, collage
Years creating: over 50 years
SCAA Member: as early as 1983
Based in: Rhode Island
Instagram: @lkingartist
Click an image to view slideshow
As you will see from her interview, Linda King has been a long-time member of SCAA. She is also a member of many other arts organizations and regularly submits to exhibitions. Over the years, Linda has had her fair share of awards, most recently at Plymouth Center for the Arts including Best in Show. She was also part of an SCAA Members Invitational Exhibition in 2019. - SCAA
Where are you from, and what do you make?
I grew up in Providence, RI. I am a mixed media collage artist. I primarily work with handmade papers, acrylic paint and ink on Illustration board. I also paint in acrylic on canvas. I mainly paint seascapes and abstracts.
How long have you been seriously pursuing art?
I have been painting for over 50 years. I moved to Virginia for several years enjoying a new passion, pursuing a rural lifestyle, farm life and horses. When I moved back to RI and a much more artistic environment I got back to pursuing art. I still have one of my horses but find time for both.
What inspires you to create?
Nature; early on in my learning days I was introduced to Beavertail in Jamestown. It has always been my favorite inspiration. I also enjoy finding abstract compositions in nature and everyday things.
Which artist outside of your chosen medium has had the most impact on your art? What do they do and in what way do they influence you?
The same artist that introduced me to Beavertail had the most impact on my way of seeing and creating individual, personal-to-me work. Barbara Besson Dellannoy, who had a studio in Wickford, was a watercolorist producing loose, beautiful, wet on wet works of art. Barbara encouraged me to paint the way that I saw things and not exactly what I was seeing in front of me. She also introduced me to Strathmore Illustration board, which is my choice for my collages to this day. Were it not for meeting her I don’t believe I would have had the license to follow my way of creating artwork.
Is there a work of art that has changed your life or how you view the world in some way?
No.
As a member of SCAA, what do you like most about us?
South County is a beautiful gallery with a very warm and welcoming staff. It also happens to be the very first place that I received an award. I was very new, it was in 1983, The Paule Loring Award for one of my seascapes. I also remember when they had a silver coffee service at the openings and it was a great honor to be asked to “pour”. I had that experience, yes, and I am very nostalgic about SCAA.