Featured Artist Linda Tompkin

I am an artist specializing in realism. I enjoy painting from life rather than using photographic reference. I feel more involved with my subject matter when I use my eyes and heart to creatively interpret what I am seeing. As a visual person, I am very influenced by the natural beauty that the Creator surrounds me with. Thankfulness wells up within me as I marvel at His artistry. Everything I put my hand to is an opportunity to praise and thank the One who inspires me to paint.

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I am a storyteller by nature. As the daughter of a theatre manager, my love of drama was established within me at a very young age. My artistic nature always wants to record and share things that touch my heart. My hope is that my paintings will affect you, the viewer, as well. After all, a story is best when shared with another. Even though I have good Northern light in my studio, I like to use a spotlight on my arrangements. The light enhances the colors and helps describe the forms of the “actors on stage”, plus it adds a bit of drama.

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One of my favorite vantage points for a still life painting is a “birds eye view”. By taking advantage of this elevated viewpoint, I find that the background fabrics complement and enhance the subject matter that I want to feature in a painting.

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Many of my collectors say that they feel they can reach in and pick up the items in my paintings because everything feels so real.

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Still lifes are one of my favorite subjects to paint. My preferred surface to work on is Strathmore acid free watercolor board. Working on this smooth paper surface enables me to achieve the amount of detail that I like to present in my work. I mat and present my work under glass as a watercolor painting.

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My paintings are primarily in acrylics, built up with many layers of paint. This layering of colors enhances the rich depth of color that I like to achieve. One of the reasons that I like working in acrylics is that they dry very quickly. I can easily make adjustments, adding and subtracting as necessary, as the painting develops.

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While a vintage piece of fabric or glassware may be the inspiration for a new painting, more contemporary subject matter attracts me as well.  Often the objects you see in my paintings accurately depict what I am looking at, but more recently I have been having fun substituting my own designs in some of the patterned areas.

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For me, design is paramount. If the concept and design of a painting are sound, I am willing to put in all the time and effort it takes to complete a painting. I am actually invigorated by the creative process, and nothing makes me happier than standing in front of my easel creating a new story to share.

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