Photo by John Smith
Skilled artist and teacher Lynda Montefusco offers some helpful advice to student Jane Blake during a recent art class at Suffield’s Masonic lodge.
Suffield artist Lynda Montefusco has been chosen winner of The Best Local Artist Award by the Hartford Magazine, 2017.
“Our readers recognized Lynda Montefusco and her studio for fostering creativity through child and adult art classes in subjects like oils, color pencils and acrylics,” Hartford Magazine editors wrote.
The magazine’s perceptive focus on creativity in children and adults highlights Lynda Montefusco’s gifts. As both artist and teacher, she shares and practices the excitement of art. Longtime associate Jane Blake appreciates Lynda’s gift and goal of making students feel successful.
Drawing since the age of six, Lynda has explored oils, colored pencils, water color, paints, graphite and wood and taught their use to students of all ages. Her adult classes host students from age 20 – 90. Lynda values teaching adults managing Alzheimer’s as well as youngsters with special needs.
Children study varied media, usually centering on favorites such as oils or colored pencils. They also study composition, perspective and design. Different varieties of paint brushes and cleaning methods are explored, and children also learn how to thin and apply paint. Lynda’s summer art camps teach such skills.
A photo from a children’s class shows an eight-year-old girl carefully scrutinizing her design for the dish of fruit she plans to paint.
Senior student John Smith commutes from New Hampshire to attend Montefusco’s classes on which he acknowledges being hooked. Although watercolor is his favorite medium, John is learning to layer colored pencil, a process he finds “fascinating.” Meanwhile, he has been working for several months painting one of the falls at Enders Falls State Forest in Granby.
John’s delight in painting is infectious. It took him years, he said, to accept Lynda’s standing public invitation to audit a class. He regrets having taken so long. Debbie Smith is studying with John, painting beloved flowers, some of Lynda’s favorite subjects along with fruit.
On the wall of her gallery is a framed hydrangea vibrating with blues. In a painting of apples and a jar of honey, the apples gleam with mouth-watering temptation.
Readers may visit Lynda’s gallery at 150 Bridge Street, the Masonic lodge, in Suffield. Information is available at a strokeofcolor@aol.com.