The art of being FOF
When Linda McCoy, from Cincinnati, commented on one of my blog posts that she had left a long- term career to become a “bohemian artist,” her name seemed familiar. I asked about her painting, one email led to another, and I found out that Linda and I did indeed meet a few years ago when she worked for Charming Shoppes and I was publishing a fashion magazine for the plus-size fashion chain.
Charming Shoppes to charming art
Linda had enough of the corporate world and started “painting my life away,” she said, concentrating on 6-by-6 inch oils. “I don’t have a degree in fine arts, but I’ve studied with many contemporary artists around the country, grabbing time whenever I could to take a workshop with them.”
Linda’s work is charming. I was captivated by her painting, Flowers in Roseville Pottery, especially because I own a Roseville antique pitcher that resembles the vase in Linda’s painting.
Flowers in Roseville Pottery
Tulip Reflections
Roni Sumer’s painting, Tulip Reflections, is another beauty. “My sister sent me tulips for the grand opening of my gallery. While I was arranging them in a vase, I set this tulip on the counter,” said the FOF San Diego artist. “The sun was streaming into the gallery and I noticed how the color reflected into its shadow. The only thing I like painting better than flowers is shadows so I was elated to paint both.”
Roni Sumer
Her site is wonderful. She especially uses blue/purple shades in a marvellous way. Thanks for this.
glad you like it susan.
Geri
One of the truly sad but uplifting experiences I’ve had as an over-50 is that one day, looking at some wonderful art in a local gallery, I realized that not only was I not going to achieve one of my long-held fantasies of painting and painting well, but that I had wasted a tremendous amount of time over the years beating myself up about it, taking workshops and doing badly in them and so on. It was very freeing because instead of constantly berating myself when I look at others’ wonderful work for being ‘lazy’, ‘talentless’ or something worse, I can now appreciate their talent and work and move on to do other things that I enjoy and do at a level that satisfies me.
Geri,
Thanks so much for giving me such great exposure. You are a treasure!
Linda
Hi Linda,
You’re so welcome.
Geri
I clicked on Linda Mccoy’s blog and can’t decide if I am a bigger fan of her oils or watercolor. They are all very beautiful!!!!!
I am a collector of Linda McCoy’s paintings and get so many wonderful comments everytime I host a party. These watercolors that I have collected are the pieces that make my house a home.
Sharon