Featured Artist Linda Laino

Surreal, dreamlike watercolor and mixed media paintings by artist Linda Laino are filled with organic elements, patterns and color. Visit her website to learn more about this artist.

 

“Guardians” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Hand-Made Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 10" x 12" by artist Linda Laino. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Guardians” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Handmade Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 10″ x 12″

 

For me, there is no greater feeling than being in the studio and having hours pass unnoticed because I have fallen into a painting. It is the most present way I can show up for my life.

 

“Passing Song” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Hand-Made Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 14" x 12"by artist Linda Laino. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Passing Song” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Handmade Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 14″ x 12″

 

With an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University, I have been making art for over three decades and this practice informs almost everything I do.

 

“Transactions With Beauty” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Hand-Made Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 12" x 10"by artist Linda Laino. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Transactions With Beauty” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Handmade Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 12″ x 10″

 

My paintings combine watercolor, ink and prisma color with a distinctive surface. Years ago, I developed a way of working that is somewhat unique. My background is in textiles and greatly influenced my love of texture and structure.

 

“Nest” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Hand-Made Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 12" x 10"by artist Linda Laino. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Nest” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Handmade Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 12″ x 10″

 

My “canvasses” consist of hand-felted wool which I then cover in many layers of very thin rice paper. The felt lends the surface a texture and dimension that informs the imagery. The rice paper takes the watercolor beautifully, and I build up the surfaces in thin glazes. Recently, I have discarded the felt however, and now use a base of watercolor paper mounted on wooden frames to accept the rice paper.

 

“Oye” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Hand-Made Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 10" x 8" by artist Linda Laino. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Oye” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Handmade Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 10″ x 8″

 

The intimate size of my paintings reflects, I think, the intimacy of the elements that interest me. I am enamored with biology systems (plant, animal, human) and the intricate forms and patterns which can be found there.

 

“False Prophet” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Hand-Made Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 10" x 8"by artist Linda Laino. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“False Prophet” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Handmade Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 10″ x 8″

 

My process is organic, and I follow the lead of the elements and color to determine where I go. I never do sketches. Because I am also a writer, words, particularly poetry, can often contain a seed for a painting. Poetry is a condensed language and I think visual artists, like poets, develop a vocabulary that helps the viewer extend the narrative as they make their own connections.

 

“Offering #2” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Hand-Made Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 12" x 10" by artist Linda Laino. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Offering #2” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Handmade Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 12″ x 10″

 

Since 2012, I have resided in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, a, surreal, colorful town that has a thriving art community. As a teenager, when I first realized my desire to be an artist, the surrealists were who I found first.

 

“Circadian Dream” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Hand-Made Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 14" x 12" by artist Linda Laino. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Circadian Dream” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Handmade Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 14″ x 12″

 

My images have always ridden the border between reality and dream and being in a country that celebrates that condition has been good for my work. Travel, in the form of art residencies, is something I have focused on for the last few years. Becoming immersed in the nature of other places keeps me curious.

 

“Full Hand” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Hand-Made Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 14" x 12" by artist Linda Laino. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Full Hand” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Handmade Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 14″ x 12″

 

I recently asked patrons who have purchased my work to give me one word that prompted them to do so. A buyer from last year said, “Magic.” This delighted me as I believe creating something that is completely unique to the individual maker renders the art process magical.

 

“Totem” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Hand-Made Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 12" x 9" by artist Linda Laino. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Totem” Watercolor and Mixed Drawing Media on Hand-Felted Wool, Rice Paper and Handmade Papers mounted on Birch Plywood, 12″ x 9″

 

To be “in” that magical space of experience and to come out of it with something to give to the world is both the artist’s gift and reward.

 

Artist Linda Laino invites you to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

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Comments

  1. Wonderful! Thanks so much Carolyn!

  2. Intelligent, compelling work. I enjoy the line and flow of your work. Thank you!

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