Linda Benton McCloskey

One of Linda's favorite quotes completely describes her - "I paint because not to paint is unthinkable.  Painting completes me and truly is my life's passion."

Linda enjoys discovering creative ways of expression and totally keeps traditional rules of painting out of the picture.  Since she loves to vary her palette of colors and new approaches, Linda's most recent works are experimental water media (abstract), mixed media, and encaustic (beeswax) with lots of texture and exciting color.  Diversity with all its fascinating choices, intrigues her and is evident in her work.  Since Linda begins a new work without a preconceived outcome in mind, she simply begins painting and then intuition, love, desire, and experience take over.  As she begins to see images, she develops them further.  No matter what the results, the works take Linda to a new destination.

After changing careers and researching her family's history, Linda discovered that Thomas Hart Benton (an American Regionalist Painter 1889-1975) was her great uncle.  Although she has no "formal" education in the art field, Linda has studied under international artists such as Pat Dewes, Betsy Dillard-Stroud, Karlyn Holman, George James, Barbara Nechis, Gerald Brommer, Carrie Burns Brown, and Mary Todd Beam.  Linda is a member of various local art groups and is a teacher of experimental water media, collage, abstract design, and encaustic.

Linda has exhibited in numerous national and international juried shows, universities, cultural centers, galleries, and museums.  Most of her works are in private collections and universities.  Linda is married and has 5 children and 8 grandchildren and lives near Harrisburg, PA in the suburb of Paxtang.

Schedule a workshop in your local area - workshops available include encaustic (beeswax and oil), collage, experimental (abstract), and mixed media  - from 3 days to 5 days.  Please contact Linda at mccloskeyart@comcast.net.