Pam Dudding-Burch
Contributing writer
When it comes to creativity, some people possess a natural talent and then there are those who are genuinely gifted. Linda Bostic Smith is both. Over the years she has used her gift to create breathtaking drawings.
At age two, Smith started drawing. “I’ve always had an unquenchable thirst to create art driven from inspiration,” she said. “Even from a young age, requests from friends to create art drew me in.”
Charcoal and pastel drawings, as well as acrylic and oil paintings, are Smith’s favorites. She also enjoys some egg tempera. Her outside influences consist of P. Buckley Moss, Nadine Allen, Robert Tuckwiller, Darcy Meeker, Barbara Capps, Lyndall Mason and Lois Hinkle.
“People and animals are a favorite of mine to create, especially portraits,” Smith said. However, I do love Appalachian montages and cowboy theme pieces.”
In sharing her story, Smith said that she lives in Elliston, Virginia, in a “humble log cabin” that she helped build with Larry, her late husband. Most of her artwork is created in her studio.
Like a quick adage, Smith exclaimed, “Friends are so very important to me, especially my close friends and family like my sister Margie Bostic, Jack and Sue Bostic, David Bostic, Lee and Cindy Sarver and their family, Christy and Ken Smith and also Luke Smith who lives in Taos, New Mexico.”
“I also have friends in Montgomery County who have been rock solid with their love and support through difficult days, as well as my dear family in Craig County,” she said.
Linda’s has always believed that it’s important for artists to share their work. In 1989, when her son Luke was a kindergarten student at Lafayette Elementary School, she started, “I volunteered teaching portrait art using ‘Gus’ from the Lonesome Dove mini-series.”
“The principal, Lois Hinkle and I invited Robert Duvall to our school for a Lonesome Dove day, and he agreed and generously spent the day at the school,” she said.
Numerous portrait subjects have inspired Linda over the years. Among them include trains, people, animals, landscapes, automobiles, planes, murals and still life. Linda also has a love for theme art such as; Pearl Harbor, the war between the states, Army and Navy ships, tanks military men and women, Appalachian life and outdoor cowboy life.
The Old Hotel in Craig displays her “Brother against Brother” prints that depict the civil war that she donated to the County several years ago.
Each time Smith posts a new picture on Facebook, friends and new admirers flood it with comments of praise and encouragement.
“You put so much expression on those faces!”, “I have loved all of these…just talent overboard!” and “Amazing,” are just some of the comments recently made.
Linda’s art is also found at Arts on 8, in Riner Virginia on 4010 Riner Road. Ran by Tracy Bishop, the store is open only on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information about Linda and her artwork, contact 540-632-2493 or search her name on Facebook.
One of her most recent art pieces was Santa being gleefully loved by a happy cow. “I love all my art, but the barnyard Santa is good,” Smith said as she raised her pencil for the next masterpiece.
