Linda Boss, a local artist, graduated from Charlevoix High School, Charlevoix, Michigan and The Art Institute in South Florida with a degree in Visual Communications and Advertising Design. She specialized in graphic design and illustration with advanced studies in painting, photography, airbrush illustration, electronic desktop publishing and business management. Acclamations include being nominated for “Best Portfolio”, receiving the “Outstanding Achievement Award”, inclusion in Crooked Tree Fine Art Exhibitions, and various local art shows.

Linda Boss Design Studio has had clients all over the state. They range from “Mom and Pop” shops to international corporations. For eighteen years she has worked out of her home studio in North Pointe, Charlevoix, doing everything from logos, business cards, brochures and illustrations, display advertising and promotional pieces for ten PhoneGuide telephone directories around the state and more recently, the creation of WebBook, a local website directory for the internet. She is also the designer for the “official” Charlevoix city flag. Linda is one of a few artists who can claim success in both graphic electronic design and fine art.

“Charlevoix Cottage Furniture & Design Company” was established in 2000 and features Functional Fine Art. Scenes of Charlevoix and surrounding areas, your home, cottage or boat hand-painted on quality wood furniture and accessories. Because of her busy Graphics business and hectic deadlines, there are not a lot of “Charlevoix Cottage Furniture” created each year. They are uniquely individual and created by the artist alone, not mass-produced with “helpers”, therefore they are more collectable! Her work now appears in art collections around the country, including numerous locals who have collected pieces since she started.

Linda’s style is American Impressionistic, incorporating bright colors and soft pastels in a slightly higher detail than traditional Impressionism. Her bright, cheerful scenes were influenced by time spent in south Florida. She and her husband Jim, were married in Negril, Jamaica and have brought a love for flowers and bright colors to mingle with their Northern Michigan life-style. Their home is filled with artwork inside and out — from local and national artists as well as a large number of her own creations.

When asked about her work, Linda says she has always loved to draw. Even as a child she used to hurry to finish a test or school paper even in grade school, so that sketches could be made on the back. She even got in trouble for selling little drawings of dogs and horses to classmates for a nickel! The preoccupation continues today. When they go anywhere, Jim will comment on her daydreaming or catch her drawing in the air with a finger and he’ll say, “All right, what are you re-designing now??” She carries a sketch book or a note pad most of the time to write down ideas.

“Yes, I love artwork and doing my artwork makes me feel alive! Just looking at a beautiful piece can bring inspiration or make me feel wonderful inside. I’m lucky that my husband and two boys are so supportive. Jim loves the unique and unusual, too. Together, we have created many interesting elements to our home and he helps me with prep work and art show set-up. Our wonderful boys, Connor and Ryder, have learned respect and appreciation for art too. Only one thing has been broken in the 15 years of infant, toddler and “boys will be boys”, activities!!” - Linda Boss