AGP Member's Spotlight: Linda Dever

The Art Guild of Pacifica is a dynamic collection of people that are rich in capabilities, artistic experience, teamwork, and most of all talent.  There is so much talent that I wish I could blog about every single AGP member all at once.  I’ll have to settle for one member at a time, this time focusing on artist Linda Dever.

Close your eyes.  Close them tight.  Think about an alternative world, a different world.  It is one that is awash in green and blue aquatic hues and dotted with trees.  This is a world where cats frolic side by side with fish and birds and other denizens of the sky and sea.  They cavort in friendship before the blissfully blue waters of the vast ocean.  Lo and behold, you've stumbled into a fantasy painting by San Bruno artist, Linda Dever.

When Linda paints, she plunges into limitless stores of creativity to invoke images of peaceful coexistence a midst imaginary worlds.   She lays down color first in acrylics, with special attention to shape and texture.  Her initial efforts seem abstract, but soon the common theme of water insinuates itself into her work.  It’s as if the water itself demands attention, leading Linda into an adventure of layering and collage, one that requires extra dry-time before the rest of the imaginary world is willing to reveal itself.  Frequently, Linda adds stickers or other embellishments which serve to coax unexpected elements of realism into what would otherwise be exclusively fantastical pieces. We don’t see much red, the angry color, or even hues of orange or yellow. No. It is ever the calming effects of blissful blue that dominate her art.  

Early on, Linda knew that to be happy she would have to find a way to combine her art and creativity with making an income. So, she achieved a BS in Art Education from Penn State University and an MA in Educational Technology and a certificate for English as a Second Language from San Francisco State.  This combined art with teaching, which brought her great happiness throughout her career.  Linda taught Art and First Grade in New York and New Jersey before relocating to San Francisco.  After a period of teaching elementary grades here, she began to work with disabled adults and senior citizens, most recently working with the Older Adults Program of CCSF, where she taught Art, World Culture, Art History, Crafts and Health & Exercise.  At this time, Linda offers a free class at the YMCA entitled “World Cultures in Art” in which current exhibits, countries, and art are the topic.  She and her husband, Steve, enjoy travelling to different parts of the world, and so she brings art & architecture from those lands to her classroom, where they are shared along with the travels of her students.

Linda is a passionate artist, and a very giving person.  I can attest to this personally. She is an individualist who has no desire to be like other people, but rather strives to be her own unique self.   She believes in the gift of giving and so, emulating her mother who believed in “help thy neighbor” as a personal attribute, she strives to capture moments in time where she can make a difference in the lives of others.  I asked her to describe her work in one word, and it was a challenge.  First, we thought words like “surreal”, “unique” and “colorful” might fit the bill, but ultimately Linda settled on joyful.  

The things that bring Linda the most joy such as cats, the sea, nature, birds, and fish, appear the most in her art … thus, Linda's art brings her joy just like teaching does.

View more of Linda’s work on-line at Linda Dever Fantasy Art and Books.  She is an exhibiting artist and member of ArtWork of San Francisco.  She’s exhibited at Bayshore Production Studios, Green Street Digital Arts and done solo shows at Caffe Bianco, Martha & Brothers Coffee, and the Art Center in San Bruno.  Linda’s art won an award at the San Mateo County Fair.  Her full body of work includes books best suited for children that describe the adventures of precocious cats and other topics close to her heart.  Read about them here.  She also does unique pet portraits that you can read about here. Her free class on “World Cultures & Art” happens at the Stonestown YMCA in San Francisco, across from the mall at 3150 – 20^th Avenue on Tuesdays.  January’s classes will be about Asia and India.  Linda will be participating with an open wall at the Art Guild of Pacifica’s upcoming “Galleria” exhibition at the Sanchez Art Center.

Written and blogged by Donna L. Faber, AGP Board Secretary.

Visit Donna at www.donnalouisefaber.com .