Lynda Best, Acrylics

I was born in Wichita, Kansas and because my father worked for Boeing and the Apollo program, I moved around the Southern United States during my childhood. I have been creating art for as long as I can remember. Even as a junior high student, I had an art studio in my daddy’s garage and taught art to children in the elementary grades. I sold my paintings to my teachers and I knew that I had a special talent in how I “saw” the world. I remember riding in the backseat of the car finding hidden images in the trees along the road as we drove by. Nature is a magnet for me to understanding myself.

When teaching, I had always painted every weekend and, after teaching 36 years, I retired from teaching May 2014! Now, I have had time to focus on all aspects of my art career. This includes social media as well as the meditative, creative part of my art activities. I am so, so blessed and grateful to be able to be full time with my painting and my many, creative interests.

Artist Statement:

EVERYTHING in Nature belongs to the Spirits. My “Self “ is my higher Spirit. With my Spirit, I paint what I feel from things I see in my Natural World. Mountains, waterfalls and flowers call to my spirit. I think most people feel the connection of nature and spirituality. I feel it the strongest in the mountains and that is why I live in Appalachia and seek the waterfalls. Our water is a reminder of changes in our lives because of the high and low levels of the rivers. Even our plants follow the seasonal changes and we experience the cycles of nature. This change in Tennessee happens because we have more rivers and waterfalls than any other state in the East. I use acrylic in a modern impressionistic style with entrancing outlines and colors that “freeze” the movement. Water falling over a rocky falls has patterns and routes that are mesmerizing. My style allows a person to feel the moment. I am passionate about the environment we live in here in Tennessee and that is why I record and paint as many rivers here as I am able. I am so blessed.

Education:

* B.A. Art Education plus an additional major in painting and minor in printmaking

at George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville,

*MA. in Education with Special Education support at Austin Peay State University

*ED.S in Educational Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University.

Educational and community involvement:

* have taught private art lessons to all ages of people

* have taught art to teenagers in New Orleans at public events in the square

* been a part-time Art teacher in 4 different public school systems

* worked at Cheekwood over 30 years ago creating the CCap program with the

public high schools in Nashville

* I helped start MACA (Monroe Area Council Arts) in Monroe County

* I taught 4 1/2 years for the Tennessee Arts Commission in the Sweetwater City

School System where the schools had NO art program available for the children.

* taught art to Japanese students at Tennessee Meiji Gakuin High School for 3

years

* created and directed murals with third grade students in the school buildings

* developed over 6 summer art programs for elementary students that supported

enrichment for our rural children in Sweetwater City.

* created and directed a mural with 60 1st grade students at Chattanooga’s Battle

Academy in 2018 depicting the Tennessee State tree, flower, mountains, animal,

etc.

Professionally:

* participated in an Artist-In-Residency at Waterhouse Pavilion in Chattanooga

with AVA

*participated in one or two person’s shows throughout Atlanta, Dalton, GA , two

person shows in Nashville, a one person show in Cumberland Appalachian Art

Center, a one person show at the Oak Ridge Art Museum as well as many private

businesses

* spiritualityhealth.com magazine selected painting “Moving Forward” for rafting article

* 5 art pieces were selected for the “New”Hyatt Plaza Hotel supporting local

artists 2018

* am presently exhibiting at the Knoxville Art Market, The Art Emporium, in the Airport show (Knoxville), displaying work at River Impressions (Tellico Plains), displaying at the Coker Creek Welcome Center (1.5 miles from where I now live have a one person exhibit at the Etowah Train Station through the Etowah Historical Commission until August 2019