"Making Art Just Makes Us Feel Good": Art as an Outlet for Joy
Ford's Colony neighbor Linda Hanlon finds local and familial inspiration for her artwork.
Linda Hanlon
I have lived in Ford’s Colony for 18 wonderful years. I grew up in Northern Virginia and lived there until retirement. My husband and I wanted to retire in a place that had art, golf and history. After exploring several East Coast areas, we decided Williamsburg was the best fit. Our daughter and her family live in Northern Virginia, which was also a plus to be closer to them. Ford’s Colony is a friendly community with lots of amenities and interesting residents.
I have always been interested in art. Even as a child, I loved to color and draw. My uncle gave me a set of Hopalong Cassidy crayons for one year for Christmas, and the rest is history! I started art lessons when I was 12 years old and I took art classes all through school. In college, I minored in art at Madison College (now James Madison University) and Virginia Tech. After college, I spent a summer at the Positano Art Workshop in Positano, Italy. It was founded by a New York artist, and budding artists attended the summer sessions. I was an au pair for a family living there, so I stayed on through the fall and became lifelong friends with many of the Italians. In retirement, we have returned to Positano every summer.
I paint mostly in watercolor and acrylics. I have tried different mediums and have learned so much from the many artists who live in Williamsburg. This town has so much to offer in all areas of art. I prefer to paint landscapes, but I am trying to branch out and learn more techniques and ideas. I currently attend a weekly art group and a monthly one.
Even though I have a different painting technique, I have always loved the Impressionist painters. It was a movement that influenced many art styles and opened the doors to experimenting on your canvas. I think my favorite subjects are my Christmas paintings. It’s fun to come up with a painting each year to use for my Christmas cards. There’s inspiration everywhere in Williamsburg during the holidays.
Probably my most memorable art project is the painting I did of my “grandog.” My daughter was a social studies teacher at the time, so she named their dog “Abigail” – after Abigail Adams. I did some research and found a photo of a portrait of Abigail Adams. Then, I had an inspiration! I painted a portrait of ‘our Abigail’ (dog) dressed in a red gown just like the real Abigail Adams wore. Art comes from inspiration. Once you have a concept, the creative process begins. I agree with this quote that “making art just makes us feel good”!