Hello! My name is Linda Young and I’m from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA. My love of drawing and painting began in kindergarten; but it was not until decades later, in 2004, that I began painting with watercolors after a trying period in my life going through a divorce.
I was feeling low about myself at that time and was looking through a magazine where I saw a watercolor class titled “Free Spirit Watercolor” and thought—well, if anybody’s spirit needed freed; it was mine! I signed up and I’ve been painting ever since.
One of my first awards was a watercolor portrait painting I did of my mother reading her Bible. It was a full 22 x 30” sheet.
The Devotion of Mother
I’ve continued my watercolor journey through workshops with internationally known watercolor masters like Sterling Edwards, Janet Rogers, Ian Stewart, Marjorie Glick, Paul Jackson, Jane Angelhart, Jean Uhl Spicer, Judi Betts and others. Experiencing and learning from those artists allows me to pick up techniques that work for me to carry into my own paintings.
I don’t think I have a certain style because I paint different subjects that interest me. I love painting landscapes, still life, portraits and seascapes and just about anything that has the possibility for a lot of color to be put into a painting.
I teach watercolor classes at the Carlisle Arts Learning Center and private lessons in my home studio. Teaching improves my own painting ability and skill; the students’ questions keep me on my toes! I’ve recently volunteered to teach a painting class at the Messiah Adult Day Care Center in Carlisle; which was quite rewarding for me.
You see, they are all senior citizens and some have a form of dementia, or have a learning disability, or just the need to get out to be with other senior citizens for several hours. Art really is therapeutic, and I could see the joy as they signed their little paintings and had them displayed on the wall for all to see.
My favorite paints are Daniel Smith Watercolors which I keep on a John Pike palette and Maimeri Blu paints on a Sterling Edwards palette. I usually paint on 140# Fabriano Artistico cold pressed paper but on vacations, you’d find me painting in my sketchbook. I use a small folding palette for painting plein air and doing sketchbook studies. My favorite brushes are the Loew Cornell 7020 and Sterling Edwards brushes.
I have earned signature status from the Baltimore Watercolor Society and the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society. I have been the workshop coordinator for the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society for three years.
My Creator has given me the gift of painting and teaching it by passing it forward to beginner watercolorists.
Linda Young
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Creator of Doodlewash®, founder of World Watercolor Month (July), World Watercolor Group™, and host of the Sketching Stuff Podcast. Sharing daily watercolor illustrations and stories while proudly featuring talented artists from all over the world! If you’d like to be a guest artist on Doodlewash.com, contact me!
Linda, your paintings are beautiful. I can feel those white flowers dancing in the Pennsylvania breeze.
Thank you Mary, I can hardly wait for this year’s cosmos to bloom for more paintings.
I really enjoyed your paintings, thanks so much for sharing with us!
Delores, Thank you so much for your comment. It means a lot to me.
Thank you for sharig Linda. You demonstrate a wide set of subjects and skills and are an inspiration
I reply to you with a thank you for your kind words. Practice and observation, trial and errors are many to obtain a goal in watercolor. With watercolor, there is still much to learn.
Lovely ….
Thank you Hadel. Happy painting to you.
Linda, your work is amazing and your sharing attitude is inspiring!
Thank you Sandra; I appreciate your thoughtful expressions in your comment.
Linda you inspired me to try a landscape and more flowers. I was just planting some cosmos seeds today. It will be good practice to paint my own.
I’m so happy to hear I’ve inspired you. We all need inspiration no matter where it comes from and if I can be of help, please let me know. All the best to you.
Gorgeous use of color and light. thanks for sharing your work.
You’re very welcome and thank you for your comment.
Linda,
Your paintings are beautiful!
Thanks so much Lisa. Hope all is well with you. God bless you
Linda We want to have you back to Messiah Lifeways Adult Day!!!! I love all your styles…it make you a more interesting artist!!!!! Love all your ideas!!!!! Love, Judy
Hi Judy, I’d love to come back to Messiah Lifeways Adult Day. It was fun. and thank you for your kind words. <3
Linda, your art story is an inspiration, and your paintings, beautiful. The portrait of your mother is exceptional. How wonderful that you teach art to older folks suffering from dementia as it opens pathways of creativity many never knew they had.
Thank you Sharon and I’m happy to have provided some inspiration to many. I never dreamed I’d have that affect on some people. I plan to continue sharing the gift with the older folks again and others as I am called to do.
Dearest Linda, What a great honor and you certainly deserve it. You always strive to improve and that is very inspirational. All the best and miss you, Andrea Clark
Hi Andrea, I miss you too and I thank you for your comment plus all the years we’ve been friends. Seems like yesterday! Hope to see you one of these Friday’s.
I love everything about your paintings: colors, subjects, and the way I feel when I view them. It is such a wonderful thing you do with spending time with people who have a battle with just living. I donate to animal shelters for fun raisers and silent auctions. It gives me such joy. Keep up the good work!
should have said “fund” instead of fun…..although they are. LOL!
Funny thing Annie–As I read your comment the first time I saw it as Fundraiser and yes they can be fun too. I thank you for doing what you are doing to benefit animal shelters too. I’m glad you loved my paintings. I love what I do.
It shows…….
I enjoyed your story and your paintings. It’s amazing that you have so many styles, each one of them beautiful!
thank you, I sincerely appreciate your comment
What beauty!
Thank you.
PS For your mother’s painting, did you use black for the background? Did you paint from a photograph?
I didn’t use black in the background, it was a mixture of Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine Blue and mixed a large amount until I got the right dark. I painted from my own photograph of mom.
Oh, that is wonderful, so beautiful! Happy Mother’s Day!!!
Absolutely beautiful paintings.
Thank you June, I appreciate your comment.
Hello.I am Snehlata Maheshwari form India. Lida u r art is megnificent. The colour combinations the way of picked up the theme is awesome 🌷 as well you had lots of experience of great artist.this nice.
If i get time like to learn some technical point. Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful treasure with us..
Thanks Charlie to introduce great artist with us .
Thank you Snehlata. There’s something to learn from many artists and also from their videos. Practice something every day
Thanks for sharing your art and story. 🙂
Thank you Janneke. Happy painting to you.