Lynda Sauls: Painter and writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lynda Sauls and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lynda, can you tell us about an impactful book you’ve read and why you liked it or what impact it had on you?
I have enjoyed creating ever since I can remember. Drawing an apple with a worm as a young child, to pointillism, watercolor, macramé, oil paints, and many other different mediums. Always looking at what was and calling out something different or magnifying the beauty of something small. I believe creativity is in us all and we are given a gift to explore, develop and enrich each other. Our world is full of amazing details, diversities, colors, forms, and wonder. We arrive into the world not out of self-will but by a designer. I love that we are given opportunities to explore and respond, it is a creative process – life. For me, the book that has most impacted me is the Bible. It has impacted me because the whole book is about creating. It starts out as creating the heavens and earth. It shows the creative process. God created man and then realized it is not good for man to be alone. So, He created Eve as a helper. As a creative I am always pondering, analyzing what I had made and looking for ways to enhance the image. It is a book that teaches how to create healthy relationships and what unhealthy ones look like. It shows the lengths as a creator one will go to rework a work so that it is transformed into a masterpiece. It contains poetry, songs and different cultures all forms of expressions of creating. Ephesians 2:10 is a verse in the Bible that talks of us as being art. “We are God’s masterpiece or handiwork”. A masterpiece an outstanding piece of artistry. The Greek word here is poiema is the ascendant of our modern “poem”. I believe our Creator God is love and I like that I can look at this verse like – “God is the Poet and each of us is a sonnet (re)created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I enjoy creating in oil and encaustic paint. Usually I work with one or another because each stirs a unique part of my creative spirit. My subject matter when using oils are flowers. I paint them realistically. I am fascinated with the form, fragrance, diversity, and shades of these delicate, vulnerable, voiceless beauties. I love to paint them large in their natural places and some in ethereal settings. Large because many times they are unnoticed and taken for granted. I think they are given to us to assure us of beauty, grace, stirring our senses of peace, serenity, and joy. Ethereal settings to draw a connection between the heavens and earth. My encaustic paintings are more abstract discernible with an ethereal form. They are more subconscious works. Listening intuitively to the medium, it is a more explorative approach. Both of my mediums are inspired by my faith in God and His unending love for His creation. It is my hope that they will whisper into your soul, “You are loved, you are seen – love is vulnerable, unexpected, yielding, and humbled… it is offered to you.”

One of my accomplishments I am most proud of is my first solo exhibit “Prerogative of Creating” at Art Serve in Ft. Lauderdale. I sold half of my 16-piece exhibit. I think my biggest challenge has been overcoming the negative seeds that were planted in my heart about taking my art seriously. It was not until I was in my fifties that I even called myself an artist even though I created all my life. What I have learned along the way is that every day is a gift and choice. I get to decide how I choose to respond to what comes my way and sometimes the hard places are doors that open to new beginnings and to embrace them.

Saying that I love to help and empower other artists. There are several ways from teaching techniques, pointing out their strengths and curating exhibits. I am the President of Weston Art Guild which has been such an amazing place of opportunity to grow, display work, learn other styles, and techniques. As President, and it has been such a wonderful way to celebrate each other as artists and display each other’s work in such a way that enhances community instead of divides by promoting competition. It is a joy to exhibit our artwork to the community and make a cultural impact. WAG has exhibited at Studio 18, Sunrise Civic Center, Bailey Hall, Coral Springs museum, local libraries, and Sailboat Bend. One of the highlights of our exposure was when we had a POP Up Gallery in a local business space that was vacant in Sunrise for 6 months where we had several exhibits, workshops and classes offered to the public.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We first would get our bathing suits on and head for Hollywood Beach boardwalk area. Get some fish taco and ceviche from the Taco Spot and a few mojitos. Then enjoy the ocean and beach under a beach umbrella. On our way home after a light cleanup we would stop by Zero Space in Hollywood to enjoy the local artists and their work. The next day we could head down to Miami and check out the Perez Museum in Miami and then head over to Wynwood District for lunch at one of the local small restaurants. Afterwards checkout out the Wynwood Walls. I live near Sawgrass Mills Mall and many visitors enjoy the shopping it is not really my thing so, depending on what she would want to do would determine if we would make this stop. But it would be a day of it as there are many stores. Then we would head over to the Weston Town Center and eat outside at Graziano’s it is a family owned business and have delicious Argentina food. Atlantic Avenue in Delray would be our next day stop. There is a plethora of restaurants to choose from along with art galleries, studios and antique shops such as Whitewall Contemporary, Magnus and Gordon Gallery and Lidiia Tohar Studio 101.The visual stimulation is exhilarating. Sometime along our travels we would stop at BaCa Bailey Contemporary Arts in Pompano Beach. It is a newly renovated facility containing a dozen art studios for emerging artists and a large gallery space for exhibitions. Then we would head to Pompano Beach for some r&r to end at Lighthouse Cove Tiki Bar. `

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shout out to my husband who has encouraged, valued, supported me financially, and emotionally. He has built multiple studio spaces. He has assisted in moving my work and helping with anything that needs to be done such as being the bartender at my receptions. I am so thankful to him for helping me achieve my goals and dreams. There are a multitude of artists I would also like to give a shout out to. Even though our styles are different our respect, encouragement, and willingness to share information are tribal. They are Patricia Beltran, Kay Kiria, Lisa Lee and Lois Perdue. They have not only shared tips and artistic direction and feedback but also brought to my attention opportunities, challenged me to explore new venues and gave me the confidence to go for it. I am also blessed by many of the local artists guilds such as Weston Art Guild, Coral Springs Art Guild, and the National League of Pen Women. These guilds have many wonderful artists at various stages all looking to support one another. Also, a shout out to Daniel Dominique, Cultural Arts Surpervisor, James Shemer Grant Administrator Broward Cultural Division, and Michael Edelberg Curator Fine Art Exchange. These are all passionate and professional men who are always looking for new venues to encourage and support the arts.