Linda MacDonald

A native Californian, MacDonald has lived in rural Mendocino County since 1970.  She and her artist husband bought an abandoned country school, La Rue, outside of Longvale and lived in the remote woods for seven years.  The first few were without electricity or plumbing and they found out how difficult and hot it was to paint at night under kerosene lamps.  Forsaking the delight of rattlesnakes, bears and the never-ending chore of cutting firewood, she and family moved into the small town of Willits.  MacDonald taught at an alternative high school for many years after finishing her degrees (BA & MFA from San Francisco State University and a teaching credential from Dominican University).  In the 70s, 80s and 90s, textiles and drawing were her art mediums but she returned to painting in the 2000s.

The rich and colorful landscapes, aging tourist attractions, and stands of ancient redwoods lead the visual array of the county and are fodder for this artist.  Her current concerns are the California redwood trees:  their conservation, appreciation, education of, and stewardship. Their inherent beauty is a prime attribute MacDonald wishes to promote in her paintings.  She hopes to increase awareness of the redwood trees status through the many facets of her artwork yet grapples with the problems inherent in representing something so large and giving it artistic justice.

MacDonald has shown her work world-wide and it is in the collection of the Museum of Art & Design (MAD), the University of Nebraska International Quilt Study Center & Museum, the City of San Francisco, the Mendocino County Museum, The White House, and many others.  Her artwork is in many publications.   For more information:  lindamacdonald.com and linda@lindamacdonald.com