Passion and Resurgence
An Exhibition of Artwork
by Willena Belden
and Linda Carey
at the John G Irvin Galleries
Central Bank, Vine Street, Lexington, KY
2nd and 3rd Floors
19th September - 18th November 2022
Linda Carey
Linda Carey was born in Paducah, Kentucky and is a graduate of the University of Kentucky where she majored in Modern Foreign Languages.
Linda, a resident of Lexington has been an artist in one media or another all her life. Vocal performance and choral singing fulfilled her artistic soul for many years. In her 40’s Linda began experimenting with other artistic media and discovered that in addition to choral performance she enjoyed photography and painting. It was not until the 80’s that Linda took her first painting workshop with Frank Palmieri. Distracted by Life’s events, she took up the brush seriously in 2000. Linda studied with Kathleen Staiger whose book “Everything you want to Know about Oil Painting” is still an inspiration.
Linda has also studied with Dawn Mill acrylic and watercolor artist, Marlene Evans Putnum, portraitist, Marianne Mckee, still life and landscape, and Vicki Marsango, oil and acrylic artist who turned Linda on to abstract expressionism at the Vero Beach Museum of Art School in Vero Beach, Florida. Linda held her first show in Lexington’s Wills Gallery. Collectors from Kentucky to Texas have her work.
“Though my palette is generally brightly colored, I always am trying to convey impressions and feelings within the painting themselves. I am loathe to give them titles (though I do), as I would prefer the viewer to find their own meaning in my work.”
Linda Carey was born in Paducah, Kentucky and is a graduate of the University of Kentucky where she majored in Modern Foreign Languages.
Linda, a resident of Lexington has been an artist in one media or another all her life. Vocal performance and choral singing fulfilled her artistic soul for many years. In her 40’s Linda began experimenting with other artistic media and discovered that in addition to choral performance she enjoyed photography and painting. It was not until the 80’s that Linda took her first painting workshop with Frank Palmieri. Distracted by Life’s events, she took up the brush seriously in 2000. Linda studied with Kathleen Staiger whose book “Everything you want to Know about Oil Painting” is still an inspiration.
Linda has also studied with Dawn Mill acrylic and watercolor artist, Marlene Evans Putnum, portraitist, Marianne Mckee, still life and landscape, and Vicki Marsango, oil and acrylic artist who turned Linda on to abstract expressionism at the Vero Beach Museum of Art School in Vero Beach, Florida. Linda held her first show in Lexington’s Wills Gallery. Collectors from Kentucky to Texas have her work.
“Though my palette is generally brightly colored, I always am trying to convey impressions and feelings within the painting themselves. I am loathe to give them titles (though I do), as I would prefer the viewer to find their own meaning in my work.”
Willena Belden
Art has helped me find myself and my purpose. It is through my creative process that I have been able to express myself and understand my feelings.
My art grows from my life experiences, people I have known, and the places I have been.
The process is messy, intuitive, and emotional as I interpret all of these things through paint and mark-making.
Each piece is an invitation to the viewer to find some personal response as it relates to their own journey. It is my hope they will feel in some way a deeper connection to all of life’s mystery and beauty.
Being primarily self-taught as an artist I just always knew this was my path in life. Born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, I have seen it become very different through the years. Growing up, the scenic landscapes and changing seasons have influenced my life and my art. I remember long rides in the country with my family out Richmond Road toward Athens, my dad singing to the radio with the car windows rolled down, simply glorious!
Since I consider myself self-educated in the arts, I have chosen my own MFA program along the way. I have taken many professional workshops and studied with numerous well-known artists. Over the years I have shown and sold my work in many art fairs and exhibitions around the country. Visiting art museums in the U.S. and abroad is a favorite activity that has also contributed to my artistic voice.
My current work is primarily focused on expressing all of my passions and history, in order to create artwork that speaks from the whole of me.
Art has helped me find myself and my purpose. It is through my creative process that I have been able to express myself and understand my feelings.
My art grows from my life experiences, people I have known, and the places I have been.
The process is messy, intuitive, and emotional as I interpret all of these things through paint and mark-making.
Each piece is an invitation to the viewer to find some personal response as it relates to their own journey. It is my hope they will feel in some way a deeper connection to all of life’s mystery and beauty.
Being primarily self-taught as an artist I just always knew this was my path in life. Born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, I have seen it become very different through the years. Growing up, the scenic landscapes and changing seasons have influenced my life and my art. I remember long rides in the country with my family out Richmond Road toward Athens, my dad singing to the radio with the car windows rolled down, simply glorious!
Since I consider myself self-educated in the arts, I have chosen my own MFA program along the way. I have taken many professional workshops and studied with numerous well-known artists. Over the years I have shown and sold my work in many art fairs and exhibitions around the country. Visiting art museums in the U.S. and abroad is a favorite activity that has also contributed to my artistic voice.
My current work is primarily focused on expressing all of my passions and history, in order to create artwork that speaks from the whole of me.
VIEW/PURCHASE THE WORKS here
The Gift
Willena Belden |
Into the Deep
Linda Carey |
She Knew She Had it in Her Willena Belden
|
Study in Gray
Linda Carey |
