Linda McFetridge

Exploring themes around connection, interaction and the coming together of different elements and influences, Linda’s work creates a visual representation of thoughts ideas and emotions in the surrealism of alternate worlds.

"I picked up my first paintbrush at 36, a late start for someone who spent their school years focused on more "academic" pursuits. Back then, I was nudged away from art towards subjects that promised a stable career. Growing up on a dairy farm along Taranaki's coast, however, creativity was inescapable. My dad, a dairy farmer, would come home from milking everyday and sit and play the Hammond Electric Organ for hours at a time composing on the spot. My mum, a nurse and violinist, would design and make countless costumes for dancing competitions that my sister and I were totally immersed in. Our parents cultivated creativity in all four of their kids, and I'm forever grateful for that."

Viewing artworks in Auckland's galleries became a kind of emotional pilgrimage for me. It was during an introductory drawing and art class with Matthew Browne that I finally found the confidence to explore painting.

My creative process today flows between landscapes and abstracts, guided more by spontaneity than overthinking. I let instinct and intuition shape my work, discovering images as I paint. My landscapes echo memories etched over time, while abstracts reflect the emotional undercurrents of my subconscious. Balancing these two styles keeps my creativity alive and evolving, with each informing and enriching the other when viewed side by side.

Review published by from Ardra Fine Arts New Jersey https://aedrafinearts.substack.com/p/linda-mcfetridge