Linda Stelling grew up in an artistically-rich family. Her grandfather painted frescoes in churches. Her father was a creative craftsman and skilled musician, and her mother a brilliant floral colorist. The rest of her extended family were symphony musicians, and one was a nationally recognized illustrator. Plain and simple, the die was cast.
After art school, where she studied ceramic sculpture and painting, Linda’s first solo journey as an artist began in an old trolley car station that froze solid in winter. Trying to create art wearing mittens was a unique challenge. From there she advanced to a beautiful old woolen mill that afforded her enough room to have both a studio and gallery.  Here she was part of a community of working artists who supported themselves with their art and opened their doors to the public. It was a great experience, but still Linda dreamed of warmer weather.

Confident that her talent and art education would allow her to compete in the Los Angeles art world, Linda moved to California and was immediately hired as a commissioned artist for a company that produced art for galleries, hotels and public spaces. This proved to be a challenging experiment in social and financial endurance, so Linda began studying with other creatives so she could gain perspective on how to survive as an artist. For many years she created large scale murals, specialty finishes and unique work for top name designers, commercial buildings and celebrities. She also taught art to adults and children for many years.

Now Linda is painting full throttle, working hard and straddling the midpoint of her career.  She has invested herself in continuing the work she began as an abstract expressionist many years ago. She is fueled by her interest in color and the dream studies she has been exposed to for so long. She no longer works under outside constraints or direction, or for the approval of others. She uses her layered experiences and passions to fulfill her life’s work. She is in the studio every day, and when she’s not, she is planning and studying for the next artwork.