Linnea

Who I'd like to meet:

We are all creative beings, artists. Every one of us has the innate desire to express what is inside of us. For as long as I can remember I have been painting, writing, dancing, singing; they have all been significant parts of my life. Without these creative outlets I would shrivel away. Bold colors, unique textures and objects consistently find their way into my life and my artwork. I paint with acrylics for the intense pigmentation/color, but I have been known to use random objects in my paintings as well, everything from paper and jewels, to pipe cleaners and caulking foam, whatever works. While these elements are crucial to my creativity, the most important aspect is emotion. I feel that art is therapeutic; it is healing, it should be a reflection of the artist’s heart and soul. Anyone can create a visually appealing work of art, with enough practice, but what does it make you feel? I am oftentimes asked why most of my images focus on the female form and my response is always the same. “I am a woman. It is what I am and what I know”. I cannot separate my gender from my creativity, nor would I want to. I am a female artist and proud of that. My work focuses on the struggles women, face, although these struggles also touch men’s lives as well, of course. Topics such as abuse, rape, and breast cancer are all issues I have tackled in my work. However, I also focus on the strengths, beauty, and mystery of the female form. These aspects are apparent to me every single day. After all, aren’t we all goddesses, faeries, gypsies, mermaids, maidens, sirens, enchantresses, mothers, lovers, and friends? My work consists of many layers, layers of color and textures, but mainly layers of meaning. I have a surrealistic style and strive to capture multitudes of expressions and emotions. Yes, I am an artist, and I have a responsibility to bring beauty into the world; but much more than that, to make people think and feel in ways they might not have otherwise been able to do. I chose to paint on guitar bodies because I liked the shape, very female and curvy, and I loved the idea of linking my artwork to music (I am also a singer, so visual art and music have strong ties for me). My guitar paintings and collage works reflect the female form, as in my other works, but in a new and unique way. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy making them!