Linda Hall is a photographer and pastel artist from East Montpelier. She’s always done some kind of art or craft. In 2019 she was introduced to pastels. She thought they were very messy and didn’t know why anyone would want to use them. And then she fell in love with them. She likes the immediacy of making the marks on the paper and the vibrancy of the colors.

During COVID, she did a portrait of her daughter’s dog. This led to a number of pet portrait commissions. She then expanded to other wildlife. Animals hold a special place in her heart. Sharing a moment with another creature can be magical. When painting a portrait, she always starts with the eyes so the subject is looking at her during the whole process. By the end, she feels she has gotten to know the essence of the animal. Although she usually paints animals, on occasion, she tries her hand at other subjects. Portraits of people are her newest challenge.

Talk to the Wing by Linda Hall

Recently, Linda answered some of our burning questions about her art:

Describe the art you are presenting in the Co-op Café this month.

An artist can capture and share things that might otherwise go unnoticed: an animal passing by in the yard or the wild, a flower swaying in the breeze, a certain arrangement of bottles, the way the sun falls across the landscape. Finding the scene and then spending time with it as it develops on the paper before me gives me a deeper appreciation for it. Hopefully, it does the same for the viewer.

When did you first start making art and how has your practice changed over time?

I’ve always done some kind of art or craft, including drawing, calligraphy, quilling, and acrylic painting. Photography has been a constant since the time I tot my first little pocket camera. The camera has taught me how to see. ln my mind, I am always taking pictures whether I have my camera with me or not. A little before COVID, I learned how to use pastels. They are my medium of choice now. I found pet portraits to be a wonderful way to connect with people and create something meaningful for them. I then expanded my subject matter to nature and, particularly, animals. I do, on occasion, attempt other subjects such as people, bottles and containers, buildings and vehicles.

Describe your workspace in 8 words or less.

Table in the sunroom facing my yard.

Name 3 artists who inspire you or who you would love being compared to.

I admire local artists Susan Bull Reilly (classical nature paintings), Heidi Broner (wonderful portraits of people at work), and Linda Mirable (super-realistic bird portraits).

What is a fun fact about you that many people don’t know?

When I was 6 years old, I was in Life magazine for fly fishing in a 50-foot tank stocked with rainbow trout at a shopping center.