On Display: Lina Forrester's artwork is semi-abstract, earthy

This week's multi-talented featured artist Lina Forrester has created for as long as she can remember.

"As a teenager, my room was cluttered with full sketchbooks, book drafts and wallpapered with photos. For most of my 20s, I honed my photography skills, both film and digital," she said. "My family and I hiked together, traveled to various places in the U.S., and hunted for caves in the forests of Missouri. This not only fed my love for nature, but also ultimately led to my love of drawing and painting the natural world."

Today, Forrester's favorite mediums are watercolor and ink. She enjoys experimenting and pushing the limits of her mediums to create art that is semi-abstract and earthy. Her work is mostly inspired by the Missouri landscape, from caves and stormy weather to the bluffs near her home in Jefferson City.

"However, don't be surprised by my occasional paintings of ghosts and spooky scenes, as I am also inspired by what goes bump in the night," she added.

Follow Forrester on Twitter, Instagram and her website, linaforrester.com. Fans of her art can also support her on Patreon. Her artwork can be purchased on Etsy, and four of her pieces are currently on display at Capital Arts.

Jefferson City Art Club, Capital Arts and Mid-Missouri art news

The Show-Me Art exhibit at Capital Arts Gallery open through March 12 is structured around the concept "art is in the eye of the beholder," but also "art is in the eye of the artist." Being the Show-Me State, guests to the exhibit may find art also reflects the spirit of Missouri. For more information, stop by Capital Arts Gallery at 1203 Missouri Blvd., call 573-635-8355 or visit capitalarts.org.

Jefferson City Art Club member Jerry Ricker, AKA Rick Jey, hosts a video documentary series that presents regional, national and international artisans relating to all aspects of the arts. In "Spotlight on the Arts," Rick Jey features one 30-minute, in-depth interview with an artist, and "Mid-Missouri Art News" provides 15-minute interviews of two guests. Airing on CenturyLink and Medicom, the programs are taped at JCTV on Lincoln University's campus. All episodes are available on YouTube by visiting the "JCTVAccess" channel. Award-winning pastel artist and instructor Lorraine McFarland, award-winning artists Jimmy Mustion and Joshua, "The Duke of Artz," Hartzler will be featured on upcoming episodes.

The "Call for Nature's Art" exhibit featuring guests from Rick Jey's shows will return to the Runge Conservation Nature Center in Jefferson City from May through June in 2020.

The Village Art Studio, located at 1502 E. High St., Suites 40 and 60, in Jefferson City, will host children's art workshops, with classes forming for its April 6 session. Each session is geared toward children ages 6 and older, and each child will create three art objects during a three-hour class. Workshops are held 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. The cost is $35 per child. For more information, call 573-230-1414.

Art House, located at 531 Court St. in Fulton, will host its "Mimic the Masters" exhibit March 9-May 18. A reception for The Palette Affair will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 9. The Callaway Plein Air event will be May 23-26 with a reception May 26. Art House is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, and closed Sunday and Monday. For more information, call 573-592-7733 or visit arthousefultonmo.org.

The Columbia Art League will be hosting the "Truth(?)" exhibit through April 19. There are many faces to the truth, many disguises and veils. In this event, the artists are asked "What is the truth to you?" There will be a reception 6-8 p.m. March 8. The gallery, 207 S. 9th St. in Columbia, is open 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. For more information, call 573-443-8838 or visit columbiaartleague.org.

The Mid-Missouri Arts Alliance of Ashland hosts one-day art workshops, "Missouri Sketchers," the first Wednesday each month. The next workshop features Marilyn Cummings, who will offer an urban sketching program, at 7:30 p.m. March 6 at the organization's gallery and facility, 115 E. Broadway in Ashland. For more information, call 573-657-0711 or visit midmissouriartsalliance.com.

Lorraine McFarland will be the Jefferson City Art Club's featured artist through March 31. Her work is now on display in many homes and corporate locations in the U.S. Her works are also on display at the Art House in Fulton and at Stone Soup Galleries in Chesterfield Mall in St. Louis. McFarland is also a gifted teacher who brings her joy for art, nature, heart and soul to her students. She is an award-winning pastel artist and instructor.

Are you interested in art or do you have a friend who is? Jefferson City Art Club meets the third Monday from September through May. The next art club meeting is 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 10 at 409 Ellis Blvd. in the community room. Professional artist Lynn Porter, who works with color pencil and watercolor, will present "I, Lynn Garriott Porter: Tales of an Artist Plus Art House Gallery - A Manager's Perspective." For more information, visit jeffersoncityartclub-missouri.com.

Professional artist Jimmy Mustion does club promotions and publicity for Jefferson City Art Club and Capital Arts.