An Artist with Class

The little girl had mud up to her elbows and a smile on her face. In front of her, proudly displayed, were her day’s creations -- a series of mud pies, each with a little animal, bush, tree or other picture incorporated into it.

Today, Linda Aman has moved beyond her earthen masterpieces and spends much of her time with paint speckling her arms instead of mud. From zoomed in floral paintings to pen and ink critters, Aman depicts the world around her.

But her passion for art has moved beyond just creation. Aman also wants to convince others that they can do art too.

“My doing art and my passion for teaching are equal enough that I can’t go very long without one or the other,” Aman said.

The artist has taught over 3,000 people, and according to her website, she continues to develop workshops and classes to fit the needs of those who wish to learn.

In 2018, Aman also had the opportunity to teach in Yellowstone National Park as an “Artist in Residence.” This volunteer position invites artists to live and work in Yellowstone and to engage with visitors and inspire the next generation of artists, according to Yellowstone Forever.

“I didn’t know what to expect for my time in Yellowstone,” Aman wrote on her blog. “I knew I would create new work and have a fair amount of paintings. What I did not expect is to be amid hundreds of visitors who I would engage in my process of art in the way of showing and explaining what I was creating.”

This interaction was welcomed by Aman. When she arrived, there was a “Do not disturb the artist” sign on her office door. It quickly came down.

Aman taught free, mini watercolor classes to the Yellowstone visitors and “opened their world to a new experience in art.” Each participant took home their own painting of Old Faithful.

And it didn’t matter who it was. Aman was certain they were capable, and she watched as people left her classes proud of what they had accomplished. Some even left amazed at their own skill.

One day, a young lady walked in with her father. She explained to Aman that her father spoke no English but wanted to take one of Aman’s classes. Aman assured them it would not be a problem, and it was not. By the end of the class, the father left with a finished painting.

“(The young woman) interpreted how much he was excited that he could come to America, he could finish a painting without having any English and feel comfortable,” Aman said. “There were no language barriers with the way I was able to interact with people from all over the world.”

Aman continues to teach art today. She teaches workshops and classes at several places in Idaho and some even in other states. One of her current studios is near the Museum of Idaho.

“It allows me to have people come in and do that education through the museum’s being able to work with me,” Aman said. “So, it’s just a delightful opportunity.”