Majida Van Lingen

Artist statement:

My artistic vision derives largely from my experiences growing up. My paintings reflect an interest in social themes. However, I choose to keep my investigation of subject matter open-ended from animals, humans, still life to landscapes.
I often explore the potential of figurative painting to express moods and emotions. I try to use clean colors, dramatic lighting, and thick paint-handling with expressive brushwork to embody the emotions of the subject matter. Painted portraits/figures have a directness that can create empathy in the viewer, and I hope my paintings cause viewers to enjoy the brushwork and possibly to question the world around them.

Art Apprenticeship
2005 - 2007 Jason Mayr Studios SLO, Ca, Studied with local artist Jason Mayr. Specialized in Still Life’s using oils on canvas, painting landscapes and segueing to figure painting.
2005 - 2009 Cuesta College SLO, Ca
2010- Calpoly State University SLO, Ca

Took life drawing at Cuesta College with David Prochaska in Fall 2006. Galvanized my interest in figure painting
Studied figure sculpting at Cuesta College with Margaret Koresheli in Spring 2007, helping to solidify my concept of 2 dimensionality in a figure.
Took another figure painting class from David Prochaska in 2008 to further my figure painting skills and to primarily focus on faces and their diversity.
2025 Joined portrait painting group at Art Center Morro Bay.
2025 Joined Plein air painters of Central Coast.

2004 part of group exhibition at Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, “Clay Has A Memory And So Do We”, Toronto, Canada.
2005 received honorable mention during the Morro Bay Art Association Annual Student Scholarship Competition.
2006 placed 3rd in Morro Bay Art Association Annual Student Scholarship Competition.
2007 received 1st place in Morro Bay Art Association’s Annual Student Scholarship Competition.

2008 received three scholarships, one from the Baywood Park Women’s Club and another from the Morro Bay Art Association. Also given the Warren E. Hansen Scholar Athlete Award and Scholarship at Cuesta College.

2009 Exhibition at Arts Obispo, Portrait Show as one of two primary artists creating portraits over two days from numerous sessions with live models.

2010 chosen to be awarded a Helen Novy Art Award by faculty of Cuesta College Fine Arts Division for class performance in Printmaking/Etching and also part of subsequent juried show at the SLO Museum of Art.

2011 Work accepted in juried student art exhibition at Cuesta College; Alchemical Laboratory

2011 Work accepted in juried student art exhibition at Calpoly State University.

2026 Accepted in juried show Vajanuary at The Bunker SLO.