Local artist, Linda Sheppard, will be the featured artist exhibiting at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery during April and May. The exhibit, entitled “Painting at Home and Abroad”, will include pastels, oils and watercolors of en plein air work in France, Switzerland, England, Turkey, Italy, and Greece as well as figurative work of locals and low country landscapes and seascapes. Linda was featured in the March issue of The Artists Magazine with her painting, “Memories at 98.”  She was selected as one of 10 finalists in the Over 60 Competition out of 2800 entries. Although they don’t award a first prize, her painting, with accompanying story, was featured as the centerfold. “Memories at 98” will be hanging in her upcoming exhibition at the BAA Gallery. In addition, the American Artists Professional League in New York City recently upgraded her status to Fellow Magna Cum Laude.

[caption id="attachment_21617" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ARTS-Linda-Sheppard_bw.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-21617" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ARTS-Linda-Sheppard_bw-300x211.jpg" alt="Linda Sheppard" width="300" height="211" /></a> Linda Sheppard[/caption]

Linda began painting over 50 years ago. She has developed an ability to not only paint in oils, pastels and watercolors, but she uses composition, colors, and shapes to tell stories to the viewers. “My goal”, she says, “is to identify the inner spiritual beauty of the person or landscape, or event and to express that in such a way that the viewers will connect. It may remind the viewers of a precious forgotten experience or captures the strength or characteristics of the person that will speak to future generations.”

Currently, Linda offers private lessons to adults and high school students. She reviews the student’s prior work before commitment and discusses what particular subjects or difficulties the student wants to concentrate on: building a solid composition, learning to identify color and value relationships, learning to draw or paint in a more painterly style or some weakness the student struggles with. They paint alongside Linda in her home studio in an atelier setting. Group workshops in pastel, watercolor, or oil are also offered as well.

Linda Sheppard’s Featured Artist Exhibit at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery will open March 30 and run through May 30. An artist’s reception will be Friday, April 10, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. where the works of over 70 other member artists will be on exhibit. The public is invited to attend.

The Beaufort Art Association Gallery is located at 913 Bay Street in downtown Beaufort. Hours are Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12:30 to 4 p.m. For more information visit www.beaufortartassociation.com.