Soul Candi: A Portrait of Voice, Power, and Presence
- Linda Chido
- May 4
- 5 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Some portraits are planned. Others arrive like a song you wake up humming—one that loops in your mind all day, persistently, like a melody you can’t shake. For me, Soul Candi was exactly that: a visual loop in my mind’s eye that wouldn’t let go. The painting lingered in my imagination for months, asking to be painted.
And now, I’m thrilled to share that Soul Candi will make its physical debut at the Sonic Vision exhibition at The City Arts Center in Round Rock TX. This will be the first time the painting can be seen in person, after previously showing online in the 2024 Fall Salon with the International Guild of Realism.
But the story of this painting began long before any exhibit.
It started with a question I asked myself at the beginning of the Music Series Collection: How does music make me feel? That question became the inquiry I followed into the series—how could I use paint to express the emotional impact of music?
Those questions immediately brought me to my oldest, Mona Rae—an exceptionally talented pianist and singer-songwriter. When I watch them perform, I cry.
Every.
Single.
Time.
There’s something sacred in their performance, like I’m witnessing them channeling something divine. That experience inspired Papillon, the first painting in the Music Series Collection—a portrait of a pianist, and a tribute to Mona, paired with the lyrics from Triumph’s Hold On:
"Music holds the secret,
To know it can make you whole
It's not just a game of notes,
It's the sounds inside your soul
The magic of the melody
Runs through you like a stream
The notes that play flow through your head
Like a dream"
But Soul Candi came from a different place entirely. When I hear Candi Sanders sing, it’s not delicate or ethereal—it’s powerful. Her voice has range, depth, and presence that packs a punch. She gives you goosebumps! The hair on your head stands up!
Candi Sanders has been called “lustful” by Soundcheck Magazine, and Malford Milligan, renowned American soul, blues, and gospel singer based in Austin, Texas, once said simply, “That girl can sing.” And that's the truth!
Her band, Candi and the Muthaload is a force of nature. The Austin Music Foundation described her music as a “powerhouse mix of R&B, rock, gospel, and funk,” while AustinLive declared her live show to be “an experience every human on Earth should experience in their lifetime.” WOW! Right?!
I’m honored to call her a friend. Candi is also Mona Rae’s beloved vocal coach—my incredibly talented kiddo who, when they decided to start voice lessons, insisted it be with Candi or not at all. Since working with Candi, Mona’s musical growth has absolutely exploded. Candi has become Mona's trusted guide and mentor and over the years, she’s also become a dear friend to me. Her presence has been woven into our family’s rhythm for a long time, both musically and personally.
I had been wanting to paint Candi's portrait for a while, and when I finally asked if I could, she said yes without hesitation. I knew exactly how I wanted to depict her: in full expression, mid-belt, eyes closed, mouth open, completely surrendered to the sound moving through her.
Visually, Soul Candi radiates presence and power. Her voluminous curls bloom outward like a halo, and hidden within the texture of her hair—if you look closely—is sheet music, collaged into the layers of the painting. This is one of the unifying elements of the Music Series Collection. Each painting contains collaged sheet music, tucked into the imagery. It’s more than an aesthetic choice; it’s a quiet offering, a tribute to the sounds that shape us—the melodies that live in our memories and become the soundtracks of our lives.
When I submitted to Sonic Vision, the application asked for a song to accompany the painting. I asked Candi to help me choose one of her songs to accompany the piece. We listened to several of her tracks, searching for the one that best captured the spirit of the portrait. We landed on her original song Crawlin—a track steeped in her signature rock-n-soul energy. As soon as I heard it, I knew it was the one. It perfectly echoed what I set out to express in Soul Candi and in the Music Series Collection as a whole: the emotional power of music made visible through paint.
Other pieces in the Music Series Collection include: Talking To An Angel, inspired by the Eurythmics’ There Must Be An Angel, and Up On The Roof, a joyful ode to Al Jarreau’s Roof Garden. The collection also features three musical landscapes: Hope Rising, Lyrical Lotusland, and Somewhere in the Woods. Each one explores a different facet of music’s emotional terrain, whether personal, communal, or natural.
But Soul Candi holds a special place in my heart. It’s a portrait of someone I deeply admire, whose voice has shaped the soundtrack of my family’s life. When I gave a print of the painting to Candi, she showed it to her mother. Her mom cried. And to me, that’s the truest measure of success in painting: not just a likeness, but truth. Connection. Emotional resonance. Soul.
Soul Candi arrives at The City Arts Center beautifully framed. The painting is rendered in oils on paper with a stunning deckled edge. I chose to float-mount the piece on white mat board to showcase the paper’s natural texture, then framed it under glass in a soft blond wood frame. It looks stunning—beautifully dressed for her public debut.
So I invite you to come see Soul Candi in person. Stand in front of her. Feel the energy wash over you. There’s nothing quite like experiencing the presence of a painting up close and personal.
If her story resonates with you, I hope you’ll also explore the full Music Series Collection, available on my website. Each painting is a visual love letter to the songs that shaped me, the people who inspire me, and the boundless beauty of both humans and Nature to make our spirit sing.
Because music isn’t just heard.
It’s felt.
And sometimes, it’s painted.
Sonic Vision
Exhibition dates: May 8 - July 3, 2025
Reception: June 18, 6PM to 8PM
The City Art Center Round Rock
231 East Main Street, Suite 160
Round Rock, TX 78664
The celebration doesn't stop there! Candi and the Muthaload will be performing in the plaza right next to the gallery! Her performance is part of the Downtown Round Rock Hometown Parklet Shows, free lunchtime concerts.
Candi and the Muthaload
June 19th from 11:30 to 1:00
📍 Parklet #2 (Corner of Main Street and Lampasas next to the gallery)
Everything is right there! Go see Candi and her band perform AND THEN pop into the gallery and see Soul Candi. Look for me and Mona at the concert - we'll be there. And be sure you let me know about your experience.
The reference photos I used to create Soul Candi were given to me, with permission, by Candi Sanders. Some of those original photographs were taken by Jen Kopp. You can see more of Jen's work at www.jenniferkopp.com
LINDA CHIDO ART
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