Linda Regula— Her Soul in Paint —Her Story in Print
(A Mission To Help Others) By: Anna Hodges
Several small studios sit in a large brick Victorian House in Zanesville. On the main floor, just to your right, there is an easel that faces the window. You will see remains of paint on a pallet dancing with vibrant colors. This was not a typical First Friday 
Event it was the day that a beautiful woman greeted me at the Gallery Walk—she had curly hair, a kind smile and brown eyes.
While in Regula’s studio I found myself stepping into her art and looking into windows, corners, and behind large trees I was looking for a small brown eyed girl. Sometimes I found her but other times I found a strong woman with a heart that wanted to reach to others that struggled with their own “shadows” this woman was nurturing their souls and helping them. Questions kept rolling through my mind — How could this happen? How was this possible? How could you survive? How can you go on? How did find the strength to share your story — your art? How?
Works by Linda Regula (from left to right) The Puppet Master,
My Other World, Gathering Lost Time
In a very small corner of her studio were several books Beyond the Dark Edge of the Woods, A Heart Wants What It Wants, Twilight Returns to Noah’s Mountain, Woodland Place of Twilight (volume 2), Cloud Fortress of Twilight (volume 3), by Linda Regula. The names were different in the books but the stories were her paintings. The artist not only painted her life and taught others how to do the same she also wrote the words describing the emotion, and feelings within her work. In a doorway was a large painting of three young girls one with brown hair and brown eyes, one with red hair and green eyes and one with blond hair and blue eyes. They were striking and there was a cabin in the mountains. I asked Linda who are they? “They are my two sisters and I.” She paused and looked into the eyes of the girls in the painting. “This is going to be the cover for my new book Tale of Three Sisters it will be out in August.” I knew the answers to my questions were going to be in the pages of this book.
Once again something caught my eye and Linda pointed to it, A Poster “This is a new websit
e my friend and former student, Paul Richmond, and I are working on” “It is called You Will Rise it is a way to help people share their feelings about being bullied, through their art.” Continuing to gather information about this web site there was great excitement finally, in this world of mass media something that had meaning –something that could help people be heard, a place to store feelings, fears and a safe place to put them. It was at this point I realized that I was indeed in the presence of a remarkable person and artists—Linda Regula.
The EOAG Exhibition Committee is honored to announce our fall special exhibition “Linda Regula—Her Soul in Paint—Her Story In Print” beginning September 6, 2011 – October 31, 2011. Join us for an artists reception and book signing on September 21, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. that same evening Linda will begin an artists tour of over 30 works on display at 7:00 p.m. at the EOAG Art Gallery and Learning Center.
To learn more about the Linda Regula and the “You Will Rise Project” go to www.youwillriseproject.com
Several small studios sit in a large brick Victorian House in Zanesville. On the main floor, just to your right, there is an easel that faces the window. You will see remains of paint on a pallet dancing with vibrant colors. This was not a typical First Friday Event it was the day that a beautiful woman greeted me at the Gallery Walk—she had curly hair, a kind smile and brown eyes. Her eyes were captivating. The type of eyes that you always remember because they spoke without words. Her eyes carried stories that only she could tell. The colors in her art pulled me to look closer to what I thought would a be whimsy and delightful journey –to my surprise I saw nightmares, despair, hope, freedom and peace. Linda joined me on a brief tour of her current exhibition I heard her tender voice describing her early childhood “the cabin,” “the shadows,” “the mountains.” Linda shared her story and how art helped her escape her shadows as a child and how art helped her work through her memories and fears as an adult.
While in Regula’s studio I found myself stepping into her art and looking into windows, corners, and behind large trees I was looking for a small brown eyed girl. Sometimes I found her but other times I found a strong woman with a heart that wanted to reach to others that struggled with their own “shadows” this woman was nurturing their souls and helping them. Questions kept rolling through my mind — How could this happen? How was this possible? How could you survive? How can you go on? How did find the strength to share your story — your art? How?
In a very small corner of her studio were several books Beyond the Dark Edge of the Woods, A Heart Wants What It Wants, Twilight Returns to Noah’s Mountain, Woodland Place of Twilight (volume 2), Cloud Fortress of Twilight (volume 3), by Linda Regula. The names were different in the books but the stories were her paintings. The artist not only painted her life and taught others how to do the same she also wrote the words describing the emotion, and feelings within her work. In a doorway was a large painting of three young girls one with brown hair and brown eyes, one with red hair and green eyes and one with blond hair and blue eyes. They were striking and there was a cabin in the mountains. I asked Linda who are they? “They are my two sisters and I.” She paused and looked into the eyes of the girls in the painting. “This is going to be the cover for my new book Tale of Three Sisters it will be out in August.” I knew the answers to my questions were going to be in the pages of this book.
Once again something caught my eye and Linda pointed to it, A Poster “This is a new website my friend and former student, Paul Richmond, and I are working on” “It is called You Will Rise it is a way to help people share their feelings about being bullied, through their art.” Continuing to gather information about this web site there was great excitement finally, in this world of mass media something that had meaning –something that could help people be heard, a place to store feelings, fears and a safe place to put them. It was at this point I realized that I was indeed in the presence of a remarkable person and artists—Linda Regula.
The EOAG Exhibition Committee is honored to announce our fall special exhibition “Linda Regula—Her Soul in Paint—Her Story In Print” beginning September 6, 2011 – October 31, 2011. Join us for an artists reception and book signing on September 21, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. that same evening Linda will begin an artists tour of over 30 works on display at 7:00 p.m. at the EOAG Art Gallery and Learning Center.
To learn more about the Linda Regula and the “You Will Rise Project” go to www.youwillriseproject.com
