The art is in the journey: Linda Parlato finds inspiration in her hikes in nature

Collins-based artist Linda Parlato draws material from her close involvement with nature in her watermedia artwork, some of which is displayed at the Kirkland Art Center in Clinton, N.Y. through Feb. 25 as part of its exhibit, “Natural Histories.”

Parlato, who received her Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in art at Milwaukee-Downer College and her Master of Fine Arts at the University at Buffalo, works in watermedia, which she said includes acrylics, watercolor, line and soft charcoal artwork.

“My art employs things that are important to me: natural elements, game pieces [and] bicycles. I had a few serious bicycling accidents and I still bike to exercise my dogs,” Parlato said. “Painting is really a self-portrait. You’re projecting yourself through your paintings, using common objects to take the personal and find something universal in it.”

When she sits down to create a work of art, Parlato said it is a multi-step process. “Images rumble around in my head. I try to visualize what might be a unique combination of things; then I do some sketches and work on placement, size, that sort of thing,” she said. “Once I choose one, I add layers of paint to create veils of color. I paint with what a lot of people would throw away. The tonal values are very neutral, and it’s a build-up. It can take a couple of weeks or longer. Each painting has to grow and change until I can look at it and say, ‘Yes, I’m happy with where that is now.’”

Parlato, who is a member of the Buffalo Society of Artists and has exhibited her work in a wide variety of venues both locally and nationally, said she has scaled back her exhibitions recently because of the expense and difficulty of getting the art to the locations.

One notable artistic experience Parlato recalled was in 2009, when she was commissioned to do three paintings for a boardroom at Greatbatch in Clarence.

“Greatbatch was compiling artists and saw my website. They called me and asked if I’d be interested. I don’t usually do commission, so it was a different experience for me,” Parlato said.

“I had three months and the designs had to be approved by the board. The first time they came back and said they wanted something different, it was a real surprise. The subject was ‘The Thinker’ by Rodin, so each of the images had to refer to the sculpture. It was a real challenge, to be given a subject like that. I had to use large canvases, which I don’t usually do. I finished three days before my knee surgery, which was good, because I wouldn’t have been able to climb the stairs to get to my studio.”

She said the Kirkland Center exhibit is different, because it is the first time an art center has approached her to send her work and not the other way around.

“One of the BSA jurors recommended me to the Kirkland Center. It’s pretty nice,” Parlato said, with a smile.

A typical day for Parlato begins with a walk with her dogs, Pepper and Zephyr, whom she says she exercises with for approximately 4 miles every day.

“I usually get up, have breakfast and exercise the dogs, then start working around 8:30. I’ll break for lunch, then go back to it until dinner. Once you’re into it, you don’t want to break the mindset for anything,” Parlato explained.

Pepper, a lab Parlato called “very gentle,” is a trained and certified therapy dog that Parlato takes to the Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home to visit with the residents. This year, Parlato also started bringing Pepper to Springville Elementary School to help teach children to read.

“There are kids who need a special kind of attention, so we come in and the kids can read stories to Pepper. It’s very rewarding,” Parlato said. “Some of them are very hesitant around dogs, but they warm up. I had always read about programs that involved dogs helping children with reading, and I approached Gowanda about it first, who were not interested. I then spoke to the library, who said we would need to partner with a school, and then Springville finally said they were interested. We’re just getting started, but the response has been wonderful. Anything we can do to get children to read is really necessary,” she added.

Her other dog, whom she calls Z, is an International Shiloh Shepherd Registry listed dog who has been bred once in North Carolina and who Parlato says she looks forward to breeding again.

“He’s a big dog: well over 100 pounds, very intelligent and very large,” Parlato said, of Z. “They are frequently used as therapy dogs because they are so smart. They are useful for people with PTSD, confidence issues, people with phobias, balance issues [and] excellent with families and children.”

After a previous dog of hers died, Parlato said she was in the market for another pet.

“I found out that Tina Barber, the founder of this breed, lives in Pike, not far from Letchworth; too close not to investigate,” Parlato explained. “The first dog I saw there was Griz. He was very large, very intimidating, but he also had this animal magnetism. I was very sure I wanted a Shiloh. I wanted a sizeable dog for a hiking companion; a dog that could take care of themselves.”

She added she often discovers the natural elements she uses in her paintings on her hikes with Pepper and Z down the Finger Lakes Trail, which she has helped maintain with a group of volunteers for more than 20 years. She said she has been “hooked” on hiking ever since she first hiked in Letchworth State Park many years ago. To this day, Parlato said her inspiration comes from the natural world, both the temporal and the eternal, and the journey she finds in nature.