11. Sun, Moon and Stars by Linda Clayton

From Linda,

"My mixed media work explores emotion, power, and the tension between freedom and constraint—particularly in the lives of women. I aim to create visual experiences that provoke reflection, spark emotion, and invite deep connection. Each piece begins with a concept or feeling that lingers in my mind—often sparked by music, memories, or cultural issues—until a visual form starts to emerge. Music plays a vital role in my process, guiding the rhythm, energy, and emotional tone as I work.

I combine traditional materials with unconventional ones—woven metal, grout, marble powder, handmade molding pastes, and found objects such as books, bills, or ephemera. These materials are chosen not only for their texture and physicality but for their metaphorical resonance. For instance, woven metal often stands in for the psychological and physical constraints imposed by clothing, beauty standards, or societal expectation.

Using brushes, palette knives, and my hands, I intuitively build layers of vibrant color, texture, and form. My process alternates between raw spontaneity and careful construction—allowing for both emotional expression and conceptual clarity. The result is a fusion of movement and meaning, abstraction and representation.

At its core, my work seeks to tell emotional truths: about resilience, identity, and the systems—seen and unseen—that shape us. I strive to give visual form to the weight and complexity of being human, while leaving space for the viewer’s own interpretation and experience. Each piece becomes a conversation: between material and memory, body and voice, vulnerability and resistance."