Must be "our" Linda Nelson
 

Linda, I'm going to assume that only one Linda Nelson in this area (St. Paul) could have created that award-winning portrait I saw today at the Fine Arts display at the Minnesota State Fair. If the painting has been previously vetted or praised on the Forum, I couldn't find it, so here's an extra dose of accolades.

The only criticism I can manage is that the shoulder-to-shoulder shuffle of fairgoers slowed even more in front of your painting, to permit the appropriate Howard Mohr-ish Minnesotanisms to be voiced in praise. A guy trying to get close enough to steal some of your licks had to behave like an out-of-stater to make headway.

The autumn color scheme is brilliantly executed, harmonizing the overall palette flawlessly. The whole piece works on a level of subtle grace and excellence. It's not hard to "see" it in a venerated spot in a home.

Is the subject your son?

If you have a digital image, I'm sure the gang would love to see it.

Congratulations.

P.S. If this isn't your painting, I guess I wouldn't make a fuss about that, just keep it to yourself and go ahead and take credit for it.

Thanks Steven for posting the news - When I went to the preview night for the Artists and learned I had won Honorable Mention, well, I went to sleep that night feeling as if I had won an Oscar.

One of the coolest things about being a part of that show is that they have over 200,000 (!) people go through that one room of art in 12 days ! It is a great competition, and a great opportunity to get ones' work in front of the public.

Thanks again for your nice words on the painting -

http://heirloomportraits.net/woa_alex0805.htm

Congratulations, Linda!

It is a lovely painting with a deceptively simple composition. Very direct and straightforward. The impressionistic way in which you've created the patterns of leaves, figure, bicycle, etc. is a great foil for the simple T-shaped abstract made by the boy and this bike. It's easy to get drawn into this scene and feel like you're in that fall day. Very unusual.

Alex

Congratulations, Linda,
I do remember this painting when you posted on the forum and I loved it then and am so thrilled for you that it won an award at such a large show.

It is a great painting!!
Pat

Congrats!
 

Congratulations! What a lovely painting, so rich in color and style. Well deserved recognition for a beautiful painting.

Wonderful news, Linda! And such a well-deserved award! I always think that your work has a Bastien-Lepage quality which is so appealing.

update
 

Thanks everyone for the comments! Well the fair is over and I'm so happy to report that I've sold the painting at it's asking price to a major art collector here in Minnesota who saw the painting at the show. The cool thing too is that he is in the process of constructing an art museum in Armenia, and so maybe I'll be able to say that I actually have a work hanging in a museum soon - and a painting of my son no less.

Dreams do come true!
Linda

Congrats Linda, that's well-deserved. What a beautiful work you produced. Maybe someday I'll visit it in a Museum.

Linda,

Congratulations on your award and your sale! This is so exciting. I hope that some day your painting will be in a museum. It is certainly deserving. It is so unusual and beautiful. wow! :D

Just great news Linda!
 

What a luscious painting, gorgeous color.

A well deserved accolade and that elusive end of the rainbow, a check as well!