My husband and I moved to Gainesville, Georgia about fifteen years ago; to a beautiful property on the North end of Lake Lanier. I have had such joy and inspiration on this land. I have painted it in all seasons and all weather. I have painted series paintings of the lake in mist, fog, rain and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. This place reminds me of Monet at Givenchy. We even have a small wild plum (meaning over-grown!) orchard. I have apple and pear trees, peach, black walnut and pecan trees to paint in every season. Instead of the lily pads, I have the Snap Dragons and Iris. And like Monet we have all manner of flowers to paint throughout the year. About the only vegetables we grow however, are tomatoes and peppers. We do grow a lot of Basil. And they can all be painted!

I have been a professional artist for over twenty years. When asked in what manner I paint, the answer is I am a studio painter. While I love to paint outdoors and do some plein air pieces my eyes are not strong enough to tolerate the light. I have been legally blind for most of my life. While I have painted every day my medium has changed from time to time. I discovered pastels for the reason they are so easy on the eye. I take my digital camera everywhere and download the wonderful pictures in my studio. Linda Dragonette is an award-winning artist who has been in numerous Regional, National and International Exhibitions. Linda is a Member of Excellence in the Southeastern Pastel Society and the Pastel Society of North Florida. She is a member of the Degas Pastel Society by Invitation and recently a member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast. Linda is also a Juried Member of Oil Painters of America and a Juried Member of Landscape Artists International.A Few of her Collectors are:

Bank of North Georgia, Buford, Georgia

Humane Society of Hall County

First Baptist Church of Gainesville

Woodruff Arts Center

Awards:

Pastel Society of North Florida Award, Southeastern Pastel Society

Merit Award, Alabama Pastel Society

The Cecile Howser Memorial Award, Pastel Society of North Florida

Merit Award, Southeastern Pastel Society

Windsor Newton Award, Pastel Society of North Florida

First Place, Buisson Arts Center, Dahlonega, Georgia

Second Place, Buisson Arts Center, Dahlonega, Georgia

Exhibitions:

-Marietta Cobb Museum of Art’s Metro Montage X Exhibition; Opening Reception Saturday,  July 10, 2010 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. This show will continue through September 11, 2010. Marietta, Georgia

-2010:A Spring Odyssey; Five person exhibition at Frameworks Gallery; Opening Reception Saturday, May 8, 2010 7:00-8:00p.m.; Marietta, Georgia

-Cumming FUMC ‘Festival of Arts’ -Cumming First United Methodist Church; Cumming Ga.,; April 17, 2010 -

-The Pastel Society of the West Coast 24th ‘Pastels USA’ International Open Exhibition; June 3, 2010 – July 9, 2010 at The Art Museum of Los Gatos, Los Gatos, Ca.

-Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art presents the Southeastern Pastel Society Juried Exhibition Oct. 3- Dec. 19, 2009

-Solo Exhibition: Mt. Beth. Church, Marietta, Georgia

-Quinlan Juried Exhibition

-Drawn Together, Frameworks Gallery, (four artist exhibition)

-Mid America Pastel Society National Exhibition

-18th National Juried Exhibition, South Cobb Arts Alliance

-Southeastern Pastel Society Members Exhibition, 2009,2007,2005…

Degas Pastel Society Twelfth Biennial National Exhibition

October 7 – November 15, 2008

 2008

Pastel Society of North Florida Pastels 2008; Opening reception September 5, 2008 at Okaloosa Wallton College
Arts Center ‘I am pleased to have three paintings accepted by judge Anatoly Dverin PSA and was awarded the Winsor Newton Award for Morning Mist

“Art and Soul”

Watson Gallery of Fine Art and Framing ;198 Fourteeth Street,Atlanta, Ga.  404-872-8020

Opening Reception Saturday 26, 2008 6-9 p.m.

2007

  • “From the Inside Out”
    Watson Gallery Fine Art & Framing
    Atlanta, Georgia
    Opening Reception, November 9th, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
  • MidAmerica Pastel Society’s 2007 National Exhibition
    The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art
    St. Joseph, Missouri
    June 15 – September
    Judge: Albert Handell
  • Southeastern Pastel Society 2007 Members’ Exhibition
    Art Station
    Stone Mountain, Georgia
    June 2 – August 18
    Judge: Terry Ludwig
  • Spring Exhibition 2007
    Frameworks Gallery
    Marietta, Georgia
  • “Color My World”
    Watson Gallery Fine Art & Framing
    Atlanta, Georgia

2006

  • Pastel Society of North Florida, Pastels 2006, Ninth Biennial National Exhibition
    Okaloosa-Walton College
    Niceville, Florida
    September 10 – October 12
    Judge: Maggie Price
  • “Drawn Together” four artists show
    Frameworks Gallery
    Marietta, Georgia
    October
  • “People, Places, and Things
    Quinlan Visual Arts Center
    Gainesville, Georgia
    May 30 – June 2
    Judge: Dennis Campay
  • “Poetry in Motion”
    Watson Gallery Fine Art & Framing
    Atlanta, Georgia

2005

  • 18th National Juried Art Exhibition, South Cobb Arts Alliance, Inc.
    Mable House Arts Center
    Mableton, Georgia
    July 8 – September 25
    Judge: Robert Delamore
  • Southeastern Pastel Society 2005 Members’ Juried Exhibition
    Mable House Cultural Art Center
    Mableton, Georgia
    August 28 – September 23
    Judge: Sandra Burshell

2004

  • Southeastern Pastel Society’s 11th International Juried Exhibition 2004
    Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art
    Marietta, Georgia
    August 6 – September 26
    Judge: Alan Flattmann
  • Pastels 2004, Eighth Biennial National Exhibition
    Historic Gulfview Hotel
    Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
    April 1 – April 30
    Judge: Greg Biolchini

2003

  • You’ve Got the Magic Dust
    Alabama Pastel Society 2003 First Open National Exhibition, Pastels
    Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Gallery, Samford University
    Birmingham, Alabama
    September 20 – October 17
  • Southeastern Pastel Society 2003 Member Show
    Art Station
    Stone Mountain, Georgia
    June 4 – August 17
  • 56th Annual Members’ Exhibition
    Conlon Arts Center
    Gainesville, Georgia
    June 1 – August 10

2002

  • The Degas Pastel Society’s Ninth Biennial National Exhibition
    Energy Building Lobby
    New Orleans, Louisiana
    October 26 – November 22
  • Southeastern Pastel Exhibition
    The Bowen Center for the Arts
    Dawsonville, Georgia
    October 6 – November 3
  • 55th Annual Members’ Exhibition
    The Quinlan Visual Arts Center
    Gainesville, Georgia
    October 3 – November10
  • South Cobb Arts Alliance, Inc.: 15th National Juried Art Exhibition
    Mable House Cultural Center
    Mableton, Georgia
    July 15 – August 17
  • Seventh Biennial National Exhibition: Pastel Society of North Florida
    Miracle Strip Parkway
    Fort Walton Beach, Florida
    April 1 – April 30

2001

  • The Quinlan Visual Arts Center: 54th Annual Members’ Exhibition
    Quinlan Art Center
    Gainesville, Georgia
    October 11 – November 26
  • Ongoing Summer Exhibition
    Leon Loard Gallery of Fine Arts
    Montgomery, Alabama
    Summer 2001
  • Featured Artist
    Leon Loard Gallery of Fine Arts
    Montgomery, Alabama
    January 29 – March 31

2000

  • Southeastern Pastel Society’s 9th International Juried Exhibition 2000
    Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for the Arts
    Duluth, Georgia
    September 14
  • Summer Celebration
    Leon Loard Gallery of Fine Arts
    Montgomery, Alabama
    Summer – December
  • The Quinlan Visual Arts Center: 53rd Annual Members’ Exhibition
    The Quinlan Visual Arts Center
    Gainesville, Georgia
    September 14 – November 10

1999

  • Atlanta Magazine presents Breast Fest ‘99
    Work honoring the healing aspect of the human spirit, benefiting Breast Friends, Inc., and The Georgia Cancer Foundation
    Atlanta, Georgia
    October 28
  • The Quinlan Visual Arts Center: 52nd Members’ Exhibition
    The Quinlan Visual Arts Center
    Gainesville, Georgia
    September 12, 1998 – July 29, 1999
  • A View from the Garden
    Spruill Center Gallery
    Atlanta, Georgia
    July 11 – August 13

1998

  • Art Atlanta – Artists of the South
    A salute to emerging southern artists, presented by Colony Square
    Atlanta, Georgia
    December 16
  • Breast Fest ‘98
    Atlanta, Georgia
    October 28
  • Romantic Impressionism
    Leon Loard Gallery of Fine Arts
    Montgomery, Alabama
    September 20
  • Pastel
    Roswell Visual Art Center
    Roswell, Georgia
    September 11 – October 15
  • Life is Beachy
    Leon Loard Gallery of Fine Arts
    Montgomery, Alabama
    July 1 – August 31
  • Artists’ Showcase
    Leon Loard Gallery of Fine Arts
    Montgomery, Alabama
    June 22
  • Southeastern Pastel Society’s 8th International Juried Exhibition
    American International University
    Atlanta, Georgia
    April 16
  • Earth’s Harmony
    Two-Person
    Hermitage Gallery
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    February 27 – March 28
  • Vintage Affair
    Fundraising event and donation, participated in cancer research
    American Cancer Society
    January 31
  • Linda Dragonette
    Featured Artist
    Montgomery, Alabama
    January

1997

  • 8 Scapes
    Trinity Gallery
    Atlanta, Georgia
    June 20 – August 1
  • Southeastern Pastel Society’s 1997 Members’ Juried Exhibition
    Self Family Arts Center
    Hilton Head, South Carolina
    May 15