Artful Life Live An
速
Magazine
7
Leslie Marsh Done The Old Fashion Way
Linda Goddard
Garden Party People's Choice
We Visit
RICK DAVIS AND THE
HYLTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
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to our readers I find it comforting to share with you just how many creative balls I have in the air and must admit, we are a little behind on this, our 7th issue of Live An Artful Life® Magazine. I am still an artist, a busy painter, blessed to be busy and I also have other writing responsibilities. But make no mistake, Linda and I are deeply passionate about this magazine and the stories we bring to you. As with other issues, we feel this latest one has a lot to offer in the way of creative education and inspiration. Starting with the Hylton Performing Arts Center, we bring you a story about more than a big fancy building where artists perform, it’s a story about community and corporations supporting the arts. It is about dedication of a few to want to offer something special to many, and in doing so the masses celebrate that cause and the results are magical. Then we travel to Pennsylvania to visit with artist Leslie Marsh. In a sense this story is like a journey of vintage exploration to meet that can do type of artist! Fearless to try something new, as long as she can create old world feel results. You’ll see what I mean. Then we are off to Maryland to meet with Linda Goddard, our recent People’s Choice winner! This mother of eight never let raising children get in the way of her need to Live An Artful Life®! Thank you for your continued support as we grow and if you want to make that message clear, we have a brand new Live An Artful Life® Tee Shirt design on the facing page to represent this great way of life! Live An Artful Life, Tom
features
14
Hylton Performing Arts Center
24
Leslie Marsh
Done The Old Fashion Way
30
Linda Goddard
Garden Party People's Choice
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7
also
inside
8
Mindful Living with Dr. Monica Neel
22
Life Coach By Kim Tapper
Photo courtesy and copyright Leslie Marsh Photography
Artful Life
Live An
™
Magazine
PUBLISHER, EDITOR Tom Neel tneel@LiveAnArtfulLifeMagazine.com PUBLISHER, ASSOCIATE EDITOR AND GRAPHIC DESIGN Linda Neel lneel@LiveAnArtfulMagazine.com ADVERTISING 540-253-9797 CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Monica L. Neel, Psy.D Tom Neel Kim Tapper, Life Coach, ACC, CPCC PHOTO CREDITS We wish to thank the following people of the wonderful photos used in this issue. Leslie Marsh Monica Neel Tom Neel
ON THE COVER
With his face in the lights, Rick Davis, Professor of Theater, Dean, CVPA, and Executive Director, Hylton Performing Arts Center. Photo and story by Tom Neel.
SUBMISSIONS Live An Artful Life Magazine welcomes article submissions by email to submissions@ LiveAnArtfulLifeMagazine.com. Please include contact information. COPYRIGHT 2015 Live An Artful Life Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be copied or reprinted without written permission from the Editor. Live An Artful Life is a registerd trademark of Live An Artful Life Inc. Live An Artful Life Inc P.O. Box 163 6474 Main Street
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MINDFUL LIVING By Monica Neel, Psy.D
As we welcome fall, I continue to relish in my
pinnacle role in the Greek war for independence
memories of summer. I had the privilege of spend-
in the early 1800s following 350 years of Turk-
ing this summer with family and dear friends in
ish occupation. The name is fitting and apparent
Greece. As a first-generation Greek-American,
in the architecture marked by fortified buildings
my early memories of summer are in the crystal
with small windows, towers, and substantial cob-
clear blue waters of Greek beaches. For most of
blestone pathways.
my American friends, these are the typical images
We parked on the outskirts of this historic
conjured up when thinking of Greece. The sights
town, and began a quiet stroll through the town’s
are amazing, but I’ve recently
center. What was most appar-
found myself trying to convey
ent initially was the scarcity of
how time feels when I’m in
people. Did you know Greeks
Greece. The people of Greece
nap? Really…all of them…ev-
seem to have a very different
ery day. The entire culture em-
relationship with time. Yes, it’s
bodies midday naps as a pri-
a vacation for me and I know
ority to the degree that most
vacations tend to have their
businesses and retail close be-
own slower pace, but there is
tween the hours of 2pm and
something specific to being
6pm.
among Greeks in Greece.
energetic pause that occurs
There’s a psychic and
Around 6pm on a Tuesday af-
during these midday hours.
ternoon in August, we stopped
There is a sense of “cleansing”
in the town of Areopoli on our way back to Sparti
as the residue of the morning has time to dissi-
as we returned from a day on the Mani coastline.
pate – the chores, the work, the social interac-
All points are situated in the southern Pelopon-
tions…even if all positive, it’s so nice to have a
nese of the mainland of Greece. The town of Ar-
space in time that allows the stimulation of the
eopoli is named after Ares, the god of war, for its
morning to dwindle.
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As we were arriving and taking our stroll, the town was just beginning to awaken from its midday slumber. There’s a very powerful “reboot” that this second awakening permits and it’s palpable, even on days when I’d not personally napped. On the heels of a restorative pause, the energy of the evening is light and positive, not agitated and overextended.
While Americans tend to come
home around 5pm to 6pm exhausted and running on fumes, the Greeks are just getting going with a skip in their step! As we passed restaurants, store fronts, and even the bakery, individuals were in the mindful flow of tending to their spaces with care and respect. The chores of sweeping, watering, and cleaning seemed to be the ritualistic way to prepare for and greet the evening. All along my walk, I noticed a cherishing and reverence of old material possessions and structures that’s not so typical in American culture. For Americans, when something is broken, the quick inclination is to replace it. In Greece, there’s a willingness to take the time to care for buildings and possessions, gardens and flowers. It’s fairly typical to see broken items still in use or repurposed, as opposed to discarded. In American culture, that may be considered shabby chic; in Greece, this is a deeply engrained way of relating to their possessions, an endeavor that takes willingness and time.
In admiring the buildings in Areopoli, I was able to time travel if only for a moment. The strength of stone, the monochromatic coloring of the facades, the small doors and windows were all reminders that the fundamental priority for people of Areopoli in years past was their safety and security. And yet the current citizens, safe from war, cherish these buildings and take time to make them their own. While the functionality of the buildings may not be perfectly suited to the new use (like the church that’s now a tavern), there’s an apparent incorporation of respect for the past and flexibility in the present. My errant thoughts on my walk then flashed back even further. Perhaps there is importance in noting that, by Greek standards, the buildings in Areopoli from the late 1700s to early 1800s are new when compared with something like the Parthenon that dates back to 432BC. Living among such buildings and history must do something fundamental to the Greek psyche. Nearly the entire country is an archeological dig situated around one of the wonders of ancient history. “Is that the key?” I wonder. For Greeks, their history is millennium. In comparison, America as a country is in its infancy. While some Americans live among structures from colonial times, that’s our point of birth. The Greek civilization had been established for thousands of years by 10 | Copyright Live An Artful Life Inc
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then. How might this impact a culture’s perspec-
in the background, I take a seat, order my coffee
tive of time? It left me wondering if, as a people,
and greet the evening with thoughts about time
this is why Greeks might not be quickly “frazzled”
on my mind.
by something like the current economic crisis. Our vacation started right after the eruption of the financial catastrophe that led to cash flow restrictions of €50 per Greek citizen per day. The American media portrayed, with its catastrophic nature, social upheaval and dramatic images. While I’m sure there were kernels of truth to the struggles depicted, it did not AT ALL match the tone and energy of the Greek people or culture when I arrived and traveled on Greek soil. What I witnessed, and what I’ve always loved about my Greek roots, is a “this too shall pass” attitude. As a people, they’ve been invaded, enslaved, occupied, and come out the other side across the millennia. So they keep moving forward…for now, on €50 a day…all while taking time to cherish their moments and tend to their relationships and belongings. They continue to awaken from their midday slumber and sip a coffee with friends at outdoor tables under the backdrop of tended flowers, store fronts, and ancient buildings. So I follow their lead. About an hour has passed on my stroll and there is a bit more energy in the air, more life on the sidewalks, all as the sun is on its downswing toward the horizon. The vacant colorful tables of outdoor cafes begin to fill as the flowers catch the light of the setting sun. And as the music plays
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HYLTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER By Tom Neel
I am standing center stage, looking out towards the over 1,100 seats of the Hylton Performing Art Center’s Merchant Hall, which towers nearly five stories to its hammered copper ceiling arches, in a perfect fusion of classic and modern architecture. It is a very exciting place to be. You can feel the energy left here by each and every talented performer and the wave of applause given to them in return. It is simply magical. My mind places enthusiastic faces to every seat, reaching out and ascending skyward,
row by marvelous row. What must it be like to perform in such a special place? Thankfully, a caring community, George Mason University, the town of Manassas Virginia, the county of Prince William, businesses and corporations, philanthropists and political leaders, all cared enough to want national and international performers to know exactly what it would be like and they built it. To say creating a place like this is the work of many, would be a considerable understatement. To say
it is the vision of a few would be true. It always
occasion. Elevation seems to be a theme here.
begins with a vision.
The Hylton Center plays to its visual and even
When you think of theater, you think of rolls
acoustic upward strength, rather than out. The
and someone must play the lead. That distinction
architects, Holzman Moss Bottino, well known for theater design, chose a modern organic approach, tapping into the close by Piedmont [foothills] region of Virginia. Copper is a feature ma-
actually goes to an experienced theatrical director, the Hylton Center’s Executive Director Rick Davis. If not enough, this man of many hats, [on this day one embroidered with CVPA] is also George Mason University’s Professor of Theater and Dean. By the way, CVPA is College of Visual and Performing Arts. [Please see page 20 for more of Rick’s impressive background]
terial element, but so is the artistically adapted
Rick and I meet and begin just inside the doors
use of raw concrete. Massive grooved support
of the Hylton Center, in The Didlake Grand Foy-
columns, rise externally and internally to flared
er, which much like Merchant Hall, rises to the
capitals, seemingly inspired by tree tops.
16 | Copyright Live An Artful Life Inc
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The building is not asymmetrical as much as
stract patterns are present throughout, as are tex-
it is intentionally fluid. Nothing is square, thus
tures and a plethora of collaborative materials of
stopping the eye. Rather, it is a space on the vi-
brick, painted cast iron, corrugated ceiling pan-
sual move. Its railings in a constant state of arch,
els, wood railings and carpeted surfaces.
flowing, wavelike, upward, and in some cases
The Didlake Grand Foyer alone, is a place of
even penetrating glass to outside balconies, or
function beyond its simple roll of welcoming
criss crossing, as with The Grand Staircase sup-
visitors. On this day 108 will attend a luncheon before a matinee concert piano performance, but cocktail parties and other supportive events are always on the foyer’s roster. Always looking up, the room’s stairway takes guests to the Buchanan Partners Art Gallery, whose polished copper wall displays the work of featured visual artists throughout the year, I must admit, myself included. But every space is integrally connected. The Hylton Center is the sum of its parts as much as anyplace you could visit. Stand in one place and soon you will find yourself standing in another, like a visual conveyer belt that moves you along.
ported by its graphic copper themed mural provided by Assett, Inc. Rick mentions the staircase as acting almost like a beacon or lighthouse through the center’s glass facade at night. Ab-
stage space has been given, including The Rehearsal Hall a gift provided by Novant Health. Additionally the Hylton Center flourishes by way of the Gregory Family Theater, which is so usefully diverse in its capabilities, it can go from a 180 seat theater to a beautiful banquet hall seating up to 400 for dinner. Many of the children productions happen here, but the room has been a jazz Entering Merchant Hall we talk about wanting
club, rented for weddings and at some point Davis
people to always feel comfortable and Rick kid-
even sees additional seating in the room’s perime-
dingly says, “Our motto has always been bluegrass
ter balcony area allowing it to become somewhat
to Beethoven.” The hall is in the shape of a Euro-
of a Shakespearian theater too!
pean opera house, going up rather than back to
Today, Prince William County Virginia stands
get its capacity. As Rick puts it, taking the seats
at around the 13th wealthi-
vertical instead of horizontal has two major im-
est county in America, but it
pacts. The first is that no seat is further than 85
certainly wasn’t always this
feet from the stage instead of nearly twice that of a traditional theater and the second reason it works is acoustic. Davis, an amateur singer himself, belts out a few calls from the stage and says, “This Hall is as acoustically perfect as any hall on the east coast.” I will at admit as well, after seeing a performance here, the sound of the applause is wonderful and apparently the performers enthusiastically feel the same way. Davis passionately states, “The greatest maestros in the world, like Lorin Maazel, may he rest in peace, [pause] he just thought this was perfect.” If all of those involved weren’t thoughtful enough to all that I have mentioned, ample back18 | Copyright Live An Artful Life Inc
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way. It has exploded in the past decade and while
tion time is not counted in months, it’s counted
that’s not all good news, The Hylton Performing
in years. As the time to build neared, costs were
Arts Center is. As Rick puts it, “Back in 1990 the
rising as the economy would be slowing, but Da-
Prince William County leadership and the city
vis states, “The building was getting more expen-
of Manassas leadership saw it coming. They had
sive everyday we didn’t build it. The meter was
done the demographic research, they had the
running.” Sure, compromise was a reality, but the
studies and they said we’ve got to get ahead of
group’s many partners held together and deliv-
this. We’ve got to start planning some change that
ered in a big way. There were details the commu-
will make us the kind of county that people want
nity would not compromise on, such as the use of
to live in and be proud of.”
the raw material of copper and other such treat-
The 44 million dollar Hylton Center was con-
ments. They wanted a signature place. One which
ceptualized while many of us were thinking of the
would promote a quality of life through the arts.
millennium and issues of Y2K. The economy was
Now in their sixth season, I’d say they got it!
buzzing along and all was on track. But one must
Hylton’s upcoming performances could not be
truly understand the long haul commitment that
more artistically diverse. Music, theater, ballet,
goes into a massive project such as this. Projec-
celebration, dance, are all part of the great talent set to hit its stage. The Midtown Men, opens the season September 19th, followed by the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The National Circus and Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China, Compañia Flamenca-José Porcel, Bollywood Masalsa Orchestra, the Moscow Festival Ballet, Lee Greenwood, and so much more. There’s even the comedy of Frank Ferrante and his show “An Evening with Groucho” The Hylton Center also features the Hylton Family Series, with shows that young theater goers will love like; Peter Rabbit Tales, Clifford The Big Red Dog, Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy:
Rick Davis, Professor of Theater, Dean, CVPA, and Executive Director, Hylton Performing Arts Center.
The Musical and even master ventriloquist Kevin Johnson. You can subscribe for prime seats, savings and
Rick joined Mason in 1991
personal service or become a Friend of Hlyton
as Artistic Director of The-
Performing Arts Center. For more information
ater of the First Amendment
visit HyltonCenter.org or call 703-993-7700.
(TFA) and a member of the theater faculty. The company, which presented its final programs in 2012, was nominated for 38 Helen Hayes Awards, winning twelve, and originated numerous works that went on to other regional theaters, television, radio, and publication. As Executive Director of the Hylton Performing Arts Center since August, 2011, Rick Davis oversees a new, state of the art venue presenting more than 20 international touring artists annually and serving as home to several resident arts organizations as well as providing a major resource for community educational, business, and social events. He also serves as an Associate Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Rick has authored four books and is a winner of the George Mason Teaching Excellence Award (1997) and an Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty Member of the Year (2006), he was educated at Lawrence University (BA) and the Yale School of Drama (MFA, DFA). He teaches courses in directing, dramatic literature, theater history, and arts management. 20 | Copyright Live An Artful Life Inc
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The Hylton Performing Arts Center which opened May of 2010 is located on the George Mason University Science and Technology Campus, at 10900 University Boulevard in Manassas. Just off the Prince William Parkway, this state of the art 85,000 square foot venue is one which features an artistic blend of national and international live performance, family entertainment and visual arts.
Life Coach By Kim Tapper In August our world lost a great man, a great
boy correctly answered that no, only orange juice
soul, Dr. Wayne Dyer. I first came across Dr. Dy-
could come out of an orange. But why is that?
er’s teachings about 15 years ago when I read one
To which the little boy replied, “it’s an orange and
of his books, The Power of Intention. His art was
that’s what’s inside!”
that of poetry and writing and for over 40 years,
So what if this is about you instead of an or-
he shared motivational words and inspiration
ange? What would come out if I squeezed you? If
on how to live fully and peacefully without fear
I pushed you a little, annoyed you, offended you?
and worry; how to tap into the great sources of
If out of your mouth came bitterness, hatred,
love and creativity that dwell
anger, jealousy, negativity…
inside each of us. Through
it’s because that’s what’s inside
his masterful storytelling,
you. If those qualities aren’t in
what he offered most was a
you then they can’t come out.
new way to look at things, a
Sounds simple enough! Many
fresh perspective. As he said,
people walk around blaming
“When you change the way
the squeezer saying, “if only
you look at things, the things
you didn’t do that to me, then
you look at change.”
I’d be fine!” There are examples
He changed how I look at
for us of people who have been
an orange…and how I think
pushed and squeezed nearly
of myself. Many years ago at a lecture, Dr. Dyer
beyond all comprehension (think Nelson Man-
carried an orange on stage and engaged in con-
dela, POW’s, Victor Frankl) and who have come
versation with a young boy in the audience. “If
out of those circumstances still filled with grace
I were to squeeze this orange as hard as I could,
and love. They epitomize this concept allowing
what would come out?” he asked. The boy an-
only goodness to reside inside them and to come
swered, “juice.” He went on to ask him if apple
out when squeezed.
juice would come out? Or grapefruit juice? The 22 | Copyright Live An Artful Life Inc
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If you’re like me, you like to think that you have
only the “good” qualities in you and that if pushed
As the seasons changes again and things fall
a little, only loving-kindness would come out of
away, it’s a good time to look at what grievances
you. But if you’re like me, that’s not always as true
(grudges, jealousies, anger, blame) you are hold-
as I’d like it to be. I can be bitter, angry, and neg-
ing tight to that you’d like to shed so that you can
ative when squeezed. Not as much as I used to
enter the next doorway, the next season and the
perhaps, but not as little as I hope for in the fu-
next chapter of your life filled only with love.
ture. When squeezed I want only patience, love, acceptance, and kindness to come out. It’s up to me to make that happen. It doesn’t just magically appear! It’s a finely tuned recipe of practicing loving-kindness and choosing to consciously fill yourself up with your values and positive intentions so that when you’re squeezed, only the good stuff comes out. I know people like that – people who always seem, no matter what’s happening around them, to radiate goodness and compassion. These people don’t get mad or worried or stressed, they are pleasant and loving and full. In our culture we even tend to crack jokes that these are the people we love to hate! In fact, these are the people we emulate; people who, when squeezed and pushed to their limits, don’t blame others or bring more negativity to the situation but who shine their light. Darkness cannot be expelled by darkness. Only light can break up the darkness. When I’m being squeezed, I want only light and love to be what comes out and I continue to work on manifesting that reality every day. What would come out of you if we squeezed you?
“Behind The Label” By Kim Tapper
Available online at A Place to Be and Mascot Books
Leslie Marsh
"Done The Old Fashion Way" By Tom Neel
24 | Copyright Live An Artful Life Inc
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The doorway into the studio of artisan Leslie Marsh is somewhat of a time portal, transporting you back to an era when skilled hands connected to artistic minds, were essential to everything made. Marsh is a maker of things, handmade artistic things, special, yet functional. But Leslie Marsh is so, so much more. She is a collector of those by gone days, an exquisite professional photographer and what I would call a fearless creative type. One who sees ideas as pathways or avenues to explore
vintage settings, opens a world to handmade
without pause. Talented? Very.
leaf-dyed pages and if you never did anything
When Leslie invites me and my wife Linda into
else but admire the workmanship, you would
her studio, you can tell her mind is inspired, ener-
be fine without function. But placing your own
gized and always thinking. She is more than com-
thoughts or photos inside certainly increases
fortable in the space she has given herself to grow,
the value of them in that keepsake sort of way.
which is loaded with character. Her studio feels
When I asked Leslie what drew her towards
much like that of a 1900‘s inventor, as if even John-
making these books, she shares, “I always liked
ny Depp might poke his head in the door, outfitted
books, I like to read books and I have a col-
in his Tim Burton inspired Willy Wonka costume.
lection of old books too.” But it seems at least
She smiles as she enthusiastically introduces us to her world. An unobservant eye might see a room of antique odds and ends, but the artistic eye only sees vintage inspiration. One form of Leslie’s creations are magical, medieval styled books, [and necklaces] made using a technique of flooded soldered brass. I must refer you to the photographs, because after all, they are worth a thousand words. To hold one of these gems, to feel its weight and surface, is special. The cover, often embellished with
in part the metal books came after she read a
book called Semiprecious Salvage by Stephanie
I love to do.”
Lee, “...and I fell in love with the whole idea of
As we look around Leslie’s studio, there is a lot
it.” Further inspiration comes from medieval and
of evidence of little found antiquities which will
Byzantine books, which is evident.
likely one day find their way to a book or neck-
With both her art and her photography, what
lace. I ask, “So is part of this process an Easter egg
started as a hobby has become a business and she
hunt?” She enthusiastically answers, OH YES!”,
points out her passion for it by saying, “I have
and it becomes apparent the search is a very fun
a friend who asked me if I had envision where
part of what she does. These found pieces are ob-
I wanted my business to go, by manifesting the
viously a form of collecting, but they, along with
whole thing and envisioning what was going to
antique photographs and post cards, become the
happen?” Leslie told her, “No, I’m just doing what
storyline by which a book becomes a reality. In
26 | Copyright Live An Artful Life Inc
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many cases just holding one of Marsh’s books
itated art.”
makes you feel as though you’ve found a diary
Leslie’s eco-dying hasn’t stopped with book pag-
and undoing the clasp will divulge a secret life.
es, she’s been working with wool and silk making
Yet the blank pages inside truly await your story.
book covers and scarves as well. The pattern of
The leaf design pages are eco-dyed [which ex-
roses, eucalyptus and other leaves such as black
tracts color from plants] watercolor paper, boiled
walnut, so perfectly enhance the wool’s texture.
in big turkey fryers. Quite a process and last year
The process gives her pieces an earthy, natural
she started wood smoking the books to age them.
feel. Again, artistic and beautifully functional. In
Leslie says, “It makes me think of an old post
some cases I could certainly even see using one
card.” Laughing, she says, “I even have a canoe
of her scarves as simply being a very nice resting
hanging on the wall in the garage, it’s like life im-
place for your book. The two compliment each
other perfectly. If her many artistic paths are not enough, Leslie Marsh is also top notch portrait photographer who is also becoming more and more in demand for corporate work and now even industrial photography. It’s all a creative balancing act, but Leslie Marsh fearlessly flows so fluidly between each of her forms of artistic expression! Leslie Marsh is respresented by LiveAnArtfulLife.com and SeagerGray.com.
Photos on this 2 page spread courtesy of and copyrighted by Leslie Marsh Photography. 28 | Copyright Live An Artful Life Inc
All rights reserved
Linda Goddard Our Garden Party People’s Choice Winner! By Tom Neel
this cowboy and I think that was it. I was so in awe of his talent, I thought anybody that could do this, that’s what I want to do.” So while raising her family, Linda took a bunch of classes and workshops. She made her creativity her own personal priority. I think this is an im-
Live An Artful Life® Gallery in The Plains, Vir-
portant point too, because I talk to many mothers
ginia celebrated the summer with a “Garden
who say they would love to have time to paint,
Party” art show featuring floral inspired garden
but the kids take up all of their time. Obviously
paintings by a great group of artists. Guests had
not being a mother myself, it would be unfair for
their chance to choose the Peo-
me to contradict this. But Linda
ple’s Choice Award and Mary-
had eight children and seemed
land artist Linda Goddard
to have prioritized her creativity
brought home the sunshine
while raising them. Eight wed-
with her 20” X 24” oil painting
ding photos ascend her home’s
titled, “Sunflowers”.
staircase and art fills her home,
Born in Illinois, Goddard had
so it looks like she did well by
a service childhood. The family
both.
moved a lot, California, Texas,
Twenty five years has passed
Newfoundland, Tennessee, Ala-
since picking up the brush, with
bama, and Virginia come out of
as she says, “Maybe eighteen
Linda in a flurry, before finally Maryland, which as she puts it,
Linda Goddard in her Maryland home
professionally and selling.” She started with taking classes at the
has been home since. Linda shares, “I got mar-
Delaplaine Arts Center in Frederick, Maryland
ried young, had a bunch of kids [8 to be exact, 4
and overtime became an instructor herself. Her
of each!], and always loved art.” Then a memora-
website mentions teaching art for local home
ble moment, “I can still remember my father had
schooled and public schooled students for ten
a young lieutenant that worked for him when we
years in both co-ops and in her home studio. Her
were in Newfoundland, and he was an artist on
basement studio/classroom backs this up.
the side. He knew I liked horses, so he drew me 30 | Copyright Live An Artful Life Inc
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Linda’s studio has a small gallery space where
her completed works can be displayed. It’s also
with, “I do really think it’s the getting in there and
her office, a place to frame and her classroom
painting.” That 10,000 hour rule again.
of multiple well equipped spots lined up for stu-
Today Linda Goddard’s subject matter is split
dents to work together. My guess is this talented
between still life and portraits and her medium
artist and mother of eight, could handle any age
is oil. She’s at a time in her life where she can de-
and thing thrown at her with ease, all while deliv-
vote much more of her time to her artistry. Linda
ering an inspirational classroom experience, but
feels like she got her talent from her Dad, a hobby
she usually begins with the age of 8.
painter over the years, and while none of her chil-
Goddard’s art though is obviously of great im-
dren paint, she lights up with sharing that a cou-
portance to her. She credits her dozen years ear-
ple of her 23 grandchildren have interest. One is
ly on working with fellow Maryland artist and
even looking at an art school, which brings an en-
friend, Mary Pfister. You can tell those years were
thusiastic cheer to her face. Passing the torch is a
valuable ones, but while Linda says she’s taken a
good thing, but you can tell that Linda Goddard’s
lot of classes, read books and watched videos over
personal artistic endeavors are far from over.
the years, “Which have helped me with the technical aspects you have to have.” She says it best
Above - Linda in her home studio and classroom. This ample space allows for a painting and framing area along with several students. Right - Linda standing nearby, with one of her two gallery walls for completed works of art.
LINDA NEEL
The passion for pattern and color
Contemporary Fine Art New Series “The Rhythm of Color”
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