Artist Bio


Walking on the Wild Side

Linda Budge

Artist, Linda Budge

Linda Budge is a painter and an animal lover who combines her passions for art and living creatures to produce works that radiate empathy and painterly grace. Her extensive knowledge of animals and deep experience interacting with them explains her uncanny ability to capture her subjects so accurately; and also helps to explain why her work carries such emotional power.

Linda’s story begins in Salt Lake City, Utah as the youngest child of three. Her summers were spent in Brighton at a cabin where Linda was surrounded with breath taking scenery; spruce and aspen trees, deep blue lakes, streams and ponds. She and her brother spent most of their time fishing, catching tadpoles and building elaborate cages for the mice and chipmunks they captured. Childhood experiences that led to a lifelong fascination with animals.

Linda recalls, “I was only 12 when I won a poster contest showcasing three white rabbits. At that moment, I knew that I was going to be an artist!…In high school, I became popular during elections and sports. I could draw, had a good sense of humor and could climb ladders without fear. The ladders, of course, were important for hanging banners.”

donkey

“At Peace”

Junior year at Utah State University became an exciting time for Linda, as she was introduced into the world of art. It gave her a foundation that she would later build on. That same year, she met and married her husband, and that following summer they moved to St. Louis, Mo. Linda enrolled in the Famous Art School, taking correspondence classes. For the next couple of years, Linda would spend weekends and evenings studying the elements of art and a wide variety of mediums.

Her husband’s job took them to Laramie, Wyoming. Moving to Wyoming proved to be a blessing in disguise for her art career. She spent time in the wild, observing, sketching and painting animals and the lush scenery that abounded in every direction.

She says, “I like to capture a gesture, an attitude, or an expression. My paintings should be a story told in each piece.”

It was also during this time in Laramie, that Linda started making life long habits of taking workshops from artists that she admired; studying books on technique, visiting museums and attending art shows. Linda has often talked about Carl Rungius, and the inspiration that he gave to her through his books and paintings.

Later, upon moving to Colorado, Linda continued painting, although her career took a surprising turn. She was hired by a publishing company to design veterinary reminder cards, and she signed a contract with Hamilton to do a series of collector plates portraying Golden Retriever puppies. Ducks Unlimited asked Linda to design several limited edition prints with Labrador Retrievers. She had added dogs to her list of animals. Now living in Arizona, animals that appear in her pieces are the wildlife common to the south western United States: cottontail rabbits, desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, wild burros and the desert gray wolf.

painting by linda budge

“The Golden Tones”

Linda’s ability to depict the nuances of animals so precisely is no accident. Her love of animals and intuitive relationship with them allows her to form an emotional connection with her subjects, which comes across clearly in the painting. She has a broad practical and academic experience with animals including a stint handling show dogs professionally, some courses in anatomy and a wide exposure to the minutiae of animals in their natural habitat.

Linda spent years developing her technique and style. To look at her paintings, one is caught up with her fascination for light and edges. She moves, changes, adapts and creates, so that all of her paintings show a strong sense of design.

She says, “I am always fascinated with how shapes, value, colors and edges can enhance, direct and orchestrate my choices.”

Linda has won numerous awards for her art and pieces of her work can be found in the permanent collections of several libraries, museums and corporations. One of her highest honors was a painting commissioned in 1983 by the State of Wyoming as a gift to President Reagan. Linda herself presented it to the President. The painting, of antelope, hung for many years in the living room of the President’s California residence. It was moved by the President himself to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley where it remains to this day.

Linda has spent a lifetime honing her skills as a painter and cultivating her love for animals. Every new picture and every interaction with another critter has enhanced her knowledge of these animals and birds, and her ability to portray them; and has provided those fortunate enough to have seen her work, a unique, even revelatory, glimpse into the animal kingdom.

Artist Statement


Do you use a camera?  This is a question I am asked rather frequently.  Absolutely!  Animals do not pose! But that being said,  I do not copy or project an image.  I use a camera for reference and accuracy, and even inspiration.  I have taken anatomy courses, studied animals in the wild, sketched them at the zoo, and taken innumerable workshops and classes.  I feel very comfortable moving legs, twitching an ear or tail to create emotion and expression.  I have also found that my audience prefers correctness and precise drawing.  By utilizing my ability to draw, I can create the scene that I have visualized.

alice the elephant

Alice

Years ago, when I was a little girl, I would ride my bike to the Hogel Zoo to visit Alice an Asian elephant.  I was enthralled with her.  I would always share my peanut butter and jelly sandwich with her, thinking to myself that one day I would own an elephant.

Well, I may not own an elephant, but I can certainly draw one.  Painting an elephant or in my world today, painting a mule deer, or a coyote, a bobcat, rabbit or burro, gives me the same pleasure I had as a child watching Alice.

I can’t imagine doing a painting without an animal or bird of some sort.  It has been a constant theme in my art, and it is foremost in my mind when I start a new painting.

Since, I can’t commandeer Noah’s Ark, I can love animals by painting them; leaving a legacy of their existence and hopefully bringing to the viewer the same joy that I experience painting them.

Curriculum Vitae


Education

University of Utah
Utah State University
Wyoming State University
Workshops with nationally known artists

Shows:
Phippen Museum Western Art Show; Prescott, AZ.
AFC Artist for Conservation Art Show, Canada
“The Wild West Art Show” at the Phippen Museum (Invitational); Prescott, AZ.
Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show & Sale (Invitational)
Old West Museum; Cheyenne, Wyo.
Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour; Cave Creek, AZ.
“Art Show at a Dog Show” sponsored by the Sunflower Cluster Kennel Clubs, (juried); Wichita, Kansas
Anthem Festival of Fine Art; Community Center, Anthem, AZ
Sonoran Festival of Fine Art; Carefree, AZ
American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog (one woman show); St. Louis, MO
Governor’s Art Show (Invitational); Ft. Collins, CO
Art Show; North Platte, Nebraska
Game Conservation International (Invitational); San Antonio, TX
Duck’s Unlimited National Wildlife Art Show; Kansas City, MO
Wyoming Wildlife Federation; Cheyenne, WY
Oklahoma Art Festival; Tulsa, OK
Society of Animal Artists
52nd Annual Exhibit (juried); Bennington, VT
53rd Annual Exhibit (juried); Parker, Colorado
“The Wildlife Experience in Art” show and sale (juried); Parker, Co.
Mountain Oyster Club; Tucson, AZ
Cowgirl Up, Wickenburg, AZ

Articles
Image Magazine
Art West Magazine
Wyoming Wildlife Magazine
Prints Magazine
Sirius, a publication of AKC Museum of the Dog
Sports Afield
Business Views, Longmont, CO
Southwest Art 2008
Dogs in Review 2009 Annual

Covers:
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Fan Fare
Wyoming Wildlife
National Golden Retriever Review
Images
Tel Ad, a Traveler’s Guide
Clumber Spaniel Club of America
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Assoc.
Sirius, a publication from the AKC Museum of the Dog

Awards:
1st place in oil, North Platte Valley Artist’s Guild Regional Show
1st place in “all antlered and horned animals”, Oklahoma Art Festival
Best in Show at the Western Spirit Art Show & Sale, Old West Museum, Cheyenne, Wy.
Artist of the Year and Best in Show, Oklahoma Ducks Unlimited
5th Annual Best in Show Art Show at the Dog Show, Wichita, Kansas
Best in Show, Casper Regional Art Show, Casper, Wy.
Best in Show, Wyoming Wildlife Federation, First stamp and print
26th Annual Best in Show at the Art Show at the Dog Show, Wichita, Kansas
Colorado Ducks Unlimited, Honoree of the Year for 1999

Limited Edition Prints:
Colorado Ducks Unlimited Great Plains Regional Prints
Ducks Unlimited Green Wing Legacy Prints
Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind in Smith town, New York

Collector Plates for:
Hamiliton

Corporate, Museums, & Library Collections:
Ronald Reagan National Presidential Library
American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog
Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind in Smith Town, N.Y., Administrative bldg.
Wyoming State Museum, Cheyenne, Wy.
Laramie County Library, Laramie, Wy.
Cheyenne Library, Cheyenne, Wy.
Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Center for Nature Conservation

Books:
Dogs I’ve Known by Linda Budge
Breakfast, The Most Important Part of the Day
sold at Amazon
A Breed Apart by William Secord Art Collections of the American Kennel Club
Contemporary Western Artists by Peggy & Harold Samuels
“Moving”, A Children’s Book, written and illustrated by Linda Budge
“Fiona, the Dancing Flamingo”, A Children’s Book, written and illustrated by Linda Budge

Professional Organization:
Society of Animal Artists, signature member
Artists for Conservation (AFC) Canada, signature member
Sonoran Art League, juried member
Women Artists of the West, juried member

Selected Collectors


 

Suzi Ballew with Linda

Suzi Ballew with Linda Budge

Dr. David Hammerslag and Cherye Pablo

Bert Castro, David Hammerslag & Cherye Pablo

Bert Castro (center) President/CEO Arizona Center for Nature Conservation/Phoenix Zoo presenting paintings of the Mt. Graham Black Squirrel to (left) Dr. David Hammerslag, trustee for Arthur L. & Elaine V. Johnson Foundation and to (right) Cherye Pablo/Gila River Community, both donors for the multi species Conservation Support Center at the Phoenix Zoo.

Gary and Pam Imig

Gary and Pam Imig

Judy Lenzen

Judy Lenzen

Anita and Joerg Auer

Anita and Joerg Auer

Evan & Mary Ann Fricker

Duane & Lorna Wadsworth

Duane & Lorna Wadsworth

President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan

Reagan Library

Linda at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA

John and Jane Campbell

John and Jane Campbell

Phoenix Zoo

Phoenix Zoo

Laura Ibsen

Laura-Ibsen

Laura accepting 1st place in Dogs Days of August, portrait of her dog Patches 

Marian Rochell with Linda Budge

Marian Rochell Linda Budge

Cerell Bolon with Chouette

Cerell Bolon

Me. & Mrs. Eliot with portrait of Susie

Mr. and Mrs. Eliot

Pam & Gary Imig (with Linda)

Linda budge with pam and gary imig

Ginny Marr (with Linda)

Thanks Ginny

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Alpern

painting of Dagny