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Cottonwood Heights Journal

Artist of the Month: Linda Etherington

Jun 29, 2016 09:12AM ● By Kelly Cannon

Etherington’s work expresses her love of bright and bold colors. —Linda Etherington

By Kelly Cannon | [email protected]

Cottonwood Heights

For as long as she can remember, Linda Etherington has been an artist. She can’t remember a time when she didn’t love art and wasn’t drawing or painting. She constantly received art supplies for birthday and Christmas presents, and she was 11 years old when she received her first oils paint set. Since then, Etherington has become a professional artist with dozens of shows across the state. Etherington has been selected as the June Artist of the Month by the Holladay Arts Council.

Etherington always wanted to be an artist. When she got to college, she took many art classes before realizing she had to declare an art major in order for those classes to count. She earned her BFA in painting from Brigham Young University in 1991. Though her subjects range from still life to color to people, all of her works are extremely colorful.

“I really like colors, and flowers are just saturated in color. For me they are so lighthearted,” Etherington said. “Figures are so challenging. But with flowers, I can be more spontaneous and use more colors. I find tons of joy in each one.”

Ethertinton said she also finds figure painting to be incredibly satisfying, but whenever she feels physically or mentally exhausted, she goes back to the flowers.

Many of her figure works are religious in theme. Subjects include paintings of Jesus Christ, Mary and Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus, Adam naming the animals and Adam and Eve. Etherington began painting religious themes 17 years ago after using a painting of a bird as the family Christmas card.

“I thought I could paint something that was more religious,” Etherington said.

That year, she painting a scene of Mary holding the baby Jesus in her lap with a bird above them. That painting was used as the family Christmas card. Since then, her religious paintings have been used for the holiday cards.

Etherington also paints religious figures out of a desire to teach her children and grandchildren about Jesus and others.

“I have things I want to be able to share,” she said.

Etherington also believes art doesn’t have to be simplified for children in order for them to understand it.

“I still remember art that I saw when I was 7 years old and, as a child, that art really moved me,” Etherington said. “You can show children real art and not have a simplified, watered down illustration.”

Etherington and her family have lived in Holladay for the past two and a half years. Etherington’s husband works in pharmaceuticals and his job has taken their family from New Jersey to California. When there came a chance for him to work for a start-up in Utah, the family moved to Holladay.

“We got really lucky,” Etherington said. “It is such a friendly community and everyone here is so kind and open hearted.”

When Etherington found out she had been named as the Holladay Arts Council Artist of the Month for June, she was totally surprised.

“I felt like there are so many artists in the world. I mean, how did you find me?” Etherington said. “I feel so lucky and so thankful.”

To see more of Etherington’s work, visit her website at http://lindaetherington.com.

The Holladay Arts Council is looking for more nominees for the Artist of the Month from residents and the community. The nominees must be residents of Holladay and must
practice fine arts or performing arts. Art subjects can include painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, dance, music, theater, opera and more. Nominees can be sent to Craig Fisher at
[email protected].

To learn more about the Holladay Arts Council and events the council hosts, visit their website at http://www.holladayarts.org.