The Studio was buzzing this morning as local artist Linda Elksnin installed her show. You can check out her colorful paintings on display show at The Real Estate Studio, 214 King Street through May 8, 2012. Linda will host a “Meet the Artist” event on Easter Sunday, April 8 from 11am-4pm during Second Sunday on King Street.  With the street closed to vehicular traffic from Calhoun to Queen, it’s sure to be a beautiful time. Drop in and meet Linda!

Linda’s interest in art began early. Her grandmother, an artist/gallery owner in Alexandria (VA), encouraged her passion for drawing and painting. Her parents signed her up for classes at the Philadelphia College of Art when she was in third grade. Linda earned a BFA in illustration from Syracuse University. However, her career path took a different turn when she taught art to children with disabilities. After earning master’s and doctoral degrees in special education from the University of Virginia, Elksnin came to The Citadel in 1984 to coordinate the special education graduate program. She retired as Professor Emerita in 2006 and returned to painting full time. Elksnin’s work has been shown throughout the southeast in galleries and at juried outdoor art shows.Linda’s inspiration comes from eclectic sources, including textiles, self-taught and outsider artists, and mainstream artists such as Mark Rothko and Romare Bearden. The mixed-media works in the exhibit were created using watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil and include paintings from several of her series. The common thread of all of her work is color and graphically pleasing design.

Linda’s interest in art began early. Her grandmother, an artist/gallery owner in Alexandria (VA), encouraged her passion for drawing and painting. Her parents signed her up for classes at the Philadelphia College of Art when she was in third grade. Linda earned a BFA in illustration from Syracuse University. However, her career path took a different turn when she taught art to children with disabilities. After earning master’s and doctoral degrees in special education from the University of Virginia, Elksnin came to The Citadel in 1984 to coordinate the special education graduate program. She retired as Professor Emerita in 2006 and returned to painting full time. Elksnin’s work has been shown throughout the southeast in galleries and at juried outdoor art shows.