Artist Linda Harrison-Parsons offers a selection of wonderfully expressive charcoal and pastel animal portraits. See more of her portfolio on her website.
![pastel owl portrait by Linda Harrison-Parsons](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Linda-Harrison-Parsons-Tomorrow-pastel-reductive-technique-on-paper-14x20-1.jpg)
“Tomorrow” pastel, 14” x 20”
I always knew I would make art.
My mother saw the creativity in me at a very young age. She gave me paper, pencils, crayons and art coloring books during my elementary school years. My teachers also encouraged me to make art. I doodled on everything, including tests, writing assignments and workbooks.
![charcoal octopus portrait by Linda Harrison-Parsons](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Linda-Harrison-Parsons-Do-Ocotpus-Dream-in-Color-reductive-technique-on-tone-charcoal-paper-22x30-1.jpg)
“Do Octopuses Dream in Color?” charcoal, 30” x 22”
Along the way a few teachers helped me expand my need to draw. I created bulletin boards, display cases and designed programs for school plays. One teacher even had me paint little winter scenes for her personal holiday cards (but I never did get paid for that job!)
![pastel elephant portrait by Linda Harrison-Parsons](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Linda-Harrison-Parsons-Ubuntu-pastel-on-coffee-stained-paper-7x11-1.jpg)
“Ubuntu” pastel on coffee-stained paper, 11” x 7”
Life sometimes gets in the way of dreams. After many U-turns and a few dead-end roads, I found that I needed to be brave and keep moving forward.
![mixed media tree painting by Linda Harrison-Parsons](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Linda-Harrison-Parsons-Tree-of-Life-Adaptation-mixed-media-18x24-1.jpg)
“Tree of Life, Adaptation” mixed media, 18” x 24”
I’ve had many jobs that just paid the bills and I went to college part-time for years. I worked full-time and sometimes part-time too, along with being a single mother. I did small art shows and joined local art organizations. Over the years I remarried, and was accepted to Maryland Institute, College of Art (MICA), in Baltimore, Maryland.
![raccoon drawing by Linda Harrison-Parsons](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Linda-Harrison-Parsons-Here-in-The-Corner-white-charcoal-on-black-paper-9x12-1.jpg)
“Here in the Corner” white charcoal on black paper, 12” x 9”
I was thirty-something when I went back to school full-time. MICA, an art school filled with many talented young people, pushed me to become the artist I am today. A professor, Abbey Sangiamo, told me to create the work I love, that my audience will find me and my art.
![mixed media zebra portrait by Linda Harrison-Parsons](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Linda-Harrison-Parsons-Looking-To-The-Sun-pastel-charcoal-on-coffee-stained-paper-11x14-1.jpg)
“Looking To the Sun” pastel on coffee-stained paper, 14” x 11”
Those words stayed with me. I still make the art that is important to my life. I earned my undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from MICA and went on to get a master’s degree in Fine Arts from G.W. University, Washington, D.C.
![charcoal owl portrait by Linda Harrison-Parsons](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Linda-Harrison-Parsons-Listening-white-charcoal-on-black-paper-9x12-1.jpg)
“Listening” white charcoal on black paper, 12” x 9”
I’m an environmental wildlife and nature artist, creating realistic works using pastel and charcoal, and sometimes mixing them with other mediums.
![pastel portrait of an owl by Linda Harrison-Parsons](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Linda-Harrison-Parsons-Waiting-pastel-and-charcoal-11x14-1.jpg)
“Waiting” pastel, 14” x 11”
Nature is my passion. It fills me with peace just as creating art does. I believe that Nature and the act of making art go hand-in-hand for me—both help keep me sane. I strongly feel that I will continue to travel this globe, teach workshops and make art for as long as my hands and eyes will allow.
!["Waiting" artist Linda Harrison-Parsons working on the saw whet owl portrait in pastel](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Waiting-artist-Linda-Harrison-Parsons-working-on-the-saw-whet-owl-portrait-in-pastel-and-charcoal.jpg)
“Waiting” artist Linda Harrison-Parsons working on the saw whet owl portrait in pastel
Thank you for reading my story. I hope you enjoy my creations. You can find demonstrations of my techniques on the blog posts in my website.
Artist Linda Harrison-Parsons invites you to follow her Instagram, Twitter, her Facebook Art page and her personal Facebook page.
Speak Your Mind