Linda Lundquist will be one of the featured artists at this year’s Evening of the Arts, and she says she is honored to be included when there are so many good oil painters in Malad. Sponsored by the Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Evening of the Arts will be at the Events Center at the Fairgrounds on Thursday, April 14, from 6-8:30 p.m.

Linda has always been interested in art. When she was 9 years old, the artist who had painted the fantastic horses and scenes on the famous merry-go-round at Griffith Park in Los Angeles came to live with her family.  The elderly gentleman taught her mother to paint while Linda, who did not paint at the time, drew the pictures for them to paint in oils.  Linda decided at that time that someday she would learn to paint in oils.

After coming to Malad, Linda finally had time to learn to paint, and she has been painting for five years.  She always told herself that “When I get to seventy, I’m going to learn how to paint.”  You wouldn’t know to look at her work that she hasn’t been at it for a lifetime.  She has taken some classes from Pennie Wolf, and the two of them often get together to paint and share ideas and techniques. She now has a busy art studio in her basement, where she often works hours a day on her passion projects.

Linda says that she could spend all day, every day painting, and that animals are her favorite subjects. Linda generally likes to work from photos, and then “add my own things into them.”  Her work includes a wide variety of oils, ranging from the previously mentioned animals to landscapes and still lifes.  She is planning to move into portraits down the road.  

Last year’s Fair was the first time Linda sold her paintings publicly, and had great success with  prints of her animal paintings.  She lets her relatives choose pictures or other references that they want paintings of, and creates them as gifts over the year.  She plans to continue producing work for both herself, her family, and the public.

Linda worked for Hess Pumice for 13 years and currently works part time for Hess Lumber. She also enjoys genealogy and camping. 

Linda and Rex, her husband of 55 years, moved to Malad in 2003 from Huntington Beach, California. They have three children, 15 grandchildren, and almost seven great-grandchildren.

Admission to the Evening of the Arts is free, and everyone is invited to see the works of some of Malad’s best artists on display. Attendees will be able to bid on baskets and other items provided by Malad’s businesses as this event is the Foundation’s main fundraiser. All proceeds will go toward remodeling rooms in the Hospital.