Meet Linda Farrelly | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Linda Farrelly and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Linda, why did you pursue a creative career?
I have always loved art, always loved creating things with my hands. Now that my children are grown, it seems the perfect time to make a change for myself.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
This past year I have been working a lot in collage and mixed media. I enjoy combining found images, photos I have taken myself, and family pictures to explore memories, connections, and emotions. From where I began, how did I get here? Looking back, there are so many things I did not have the experience and perspective to understand. Growing up and living a life is a complex endeavor. We all go through it differently, but in many ways it is all the same journey.

I was furloughed for 10 weeks at the beginning of the pandemic, then spend about 2 months working part-time. I used that opportunity to convert an unused bedroom into an art studio. I spent most of my furloughed days there and realized that I would be very happy to work as an artist full-time. I am working towards that dream every day by spend time working in the studio, becoming a better artist and learning how to market my work.

Working a full-time job and maintaining a regular studio practice has been my main challenge. Some days I am tired and just don’t want to. Even so, I make sure one creative thing happens every day. Work on one step of a project. Fill one page of a sketchbook. Look at another artist’s work and think about how it relates to what I am working on. Just keep the ball rolling! That way, when I have a chunk of time I can just dive in instead of thinking about what to do and how.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely start out at the MCA. There is always interesting art, and it is possible to see the whole museum in an afternoon. Also, the rooftop cafe has great food and an amazing view! Another must-see is the Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center in Westminster. Spending time among the plants and butterflies is an experience not soon forgotten. Jewell of India restaurant is nearby, my favorite Indian restaurant.
Spending a day at Water World is also fun in the summer.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Most of my support and encouragement comes from my family: my brother Sean Farrelly, my children Devi, Tara, and Finn Fitelly, and my uncle Joe Morelli. My friends have also been incredibly supportive, especially photographer Sallie Sprague and the members of the online collage group Sticking to Collage: Jill Reinke, Dorothy Rogowski, Jeff Elliot, Renee Johnson and the gang. It’s great to have a safe place to post new work or just try something new.

Website: https://www.lindafarrellyart.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindafarrellyart/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaFarrellyFineArt

Image Credits
Linda Farrelly Sallie Sprague