My Story

I am an American-born, New York transplant, living and working in Austin, TX.

Even though it has been said that I was born an artist by close friends, and my early pursuits were in the fine arts, I attended university to study architecture and urban planning. My time at university taught me discipline and gave me a great love for design, which has served me to this day.

While I worked to establish a career in these fields, my heart wasn’t in it. My last effort to bring meaning into an unfulfilling career was Feng Shui training. On the last day of the training, we were lead through a meditation that concluded with this question – what do you want to do? Without hesitation I wrote, “I want to paint”. The answer was shocking but not surprising. 

In seeking painting instruction, I stumbled upon Philip Rubinov Jacobson's Old Masters New Visions seminar. A chance occurrence that changed my life. In 2001 and 2002, I studied with Prof. Phil and Michael Fuchs, in both Vienna, AU and Florence, IT. Under their tutelage, I learned the Mischtechnik. A method of developing a painting in layers, in a prescribed sequence, that was originally interpreted and taught by Austrian artist Ernst Fuchs. The result is magical optical effects, a vibrant luminosity, and a high level of detail. It is my variations on this technique that now defines my distinctive style.

From the early 2000s until the birth of my daughter in 2005, I had the great honor and privilege to be a part of the visionary art movement and exhibit along side visionary luminaries - Brigid Marlin, Martina Hofmann, Robert Venosa, DeEs Schwertberger, Olga Spiegel, and so many others! All of us in this now vast visionary tribe, as it is called, are a part of the lineage and legacy of Ernst Fuchs.

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While pursuing my artistic dreams in NYC, I faced profound challenges when my children were born with medical needs. This demanding period in my life led me to temporarily step away from my studio practice to focus on caring for them. In addition to managing their medical needs, I also homeschooled. This chapter of my life was marked by two extremes: traumatizing medical experiences with my children, and the profound joy of teaching, sharing and making art together.

My artistic output during my homeschooling years was broad and extensive - doll making, knitting, crochet, quilting, sewing, macrame, needle felting, curriculum design, lesson drawings, and unique art history projects I developed for my kids - Greek mosaics, making Egyptian papyrus, illuminated page for Middle Ages studies, and fresco painting during our Renaissance studies, just to name a few.

In 2019, after many years away, I  returned to my studio practice and my personal art. My passion for painting is as steadfast as ever and my work stands as a testament to the dedication I have for my craft.​

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A firm believer in the power of art to enrich and transform lives, I also actively work to promote the value of art in my community. My teaching and volunteer work includes providing art instruction to children and adults with disabilities. This work is near and dear to my heart and work I am very passionate about. I believe everyone deserves quality arts instruction. I have witnessed first-hand the transformative power of art, not only with my own children who have disabilities, but also with many of my students.

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With an unquenchable thirst for creative expression, I remain steadfast in sharing my paintings, my knowledge, and my experiences. In doing so, my hope is that I can leave an indelible mark on the all of the people I have had the honor to share art with.

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Linda is a representational painter and holds a Masters in Architecture and a Masters in Urban Planning from the University of Buffalo, NY, She and the Chido Gross Family reside and work just south of Austin, Texas, where they create art together.