Meet Linda Shrader | Sculptor, Muralist, Photographer, Fine Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Linda Shrader and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Linda, what matters most to you?
In all my artwork, quality/structural integrity comes before aesthetics. I put time and effort into aspects that no one will ever see, but I know it’s there. Naturally, I love to create beautiful art, but I would never want my name on something that failed before it’s time due to lack of quality, in materials or processes.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think the thing that makes me the most unique as an artist, is that I hand sculpt, prime, and paint realistic looking Joshua Trees.

Some people think I’m crazy, because when I first thought of doing it, I had no sculpting experience. I was known as a muralist, fine artist, and photographer. Others think I must be the most patient person they know. I didn’t know if it was possible, but I’ve been sculpting for ten years now, and I think I’m getting there.

When someone first see’s one of my Joshua Tree Forever Sculptures, viewers usually study them for awhile, and then the most frequent questions are “How do you do that? What is this made of? and How long did that take!?” I often hear, “I’ve never seen anything like them.”

Each sculpture is unique and completely hand made, usually with just a concept in my head, but no set plan. I just start working and let it take shape. Every spike on the trees are hand rolled, and might be as small as less than an eighth of an inch. Some people expect smaller sculptures to cost less, but the tiny details are actually more difficult and tedious. Each one takes anywhere from fifteen to well over a hundred hours from start to finish.

Being an artistic creative is not what I do, it’s who I am. Learning, creating, and sharing, has been my life-long driving force, my passion, my bliss.

My artistic journey began with a plastic brownie camera when I was eight years old. Not wanting to waste film, I started studying details more closely, and learned about composition and perspective. I soon began drawing, thrilled by the challenge of trying to achieve as much detail and realism as possible.

At age eleven, I won my first Jr. Artist Contest, published in The Sun Telegram, the San Bernardino newspaper (now The Sun). I’ll never forget opening the Sunday paper and seeing my drawing of a horse titled “King of the Canyon” as the weekly winner. I received a certificate and $2! That little bit of validation gave me the confidence to keep going, and I’ve never stopped.

Throughout my life, I’ve continued drawing, photography, and video, while also raising seven children (four daughters and three stepchildren), managed a family blues-rock band, and worked in real estate for fifteen years. I eventually took my portrait drawing to an award-winning master level.

I finally got the courage to learn to paint at forty years old, taking six oil painting lessons and began painting fine art portraits and landscapes. When I was invited to assist with some public art murals, that was a life changing experience… I fell in LOVE with the whole process. I established a mural business, Larger Than Life Murals in 2007, and have painted nearly a hundred murals in California, many with my oldest daughter, Echo Westover. In 2015, we answered an international call to artists and were awarded the contract to paint a 16’ x 20’ mural, titled Welcome Home Warriors, honoring our veterans of the Vietnam war, commissioned by the Manteca Mural Society, Manteca, CA. 

We’ve worked with individuals, communities, schools, businesses, and civic agencies, learning about them and designing murals to visually tell their story. Some of my favorite projects involve painting with and mentoring young artists. The true beauty of public art, is that it belongs to everyone, for free.

Throughout my life, I’ve studied and experimented with various mediums and painted on many surfaces. Subject matter has ranged from portraiture to desert landscapes featuring Joshua Trees which is very popular with locals and tourists. Always striving to improve, I’ve attended various classes, and workshops with successful artists, including Trompe l’oeil Mastery I & II with internationally recognized, catalytic public artist, William Cochran.

Community involvement and support is also near and dear to my heart. I am an advocate of art as an economic engine, public art, and art in schools. As a founding board member of the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council in 2001, I helped to create the first Open Studio Art Tours (now called HWY 62 Open Studio Art Tours). and currently serve on the Executive Board of Directors for Hi-Desert Artists, a non-profit, community organization.

As a long-time resident of the Morongo Basin, I’ve spent countless hours hiking in our desert for inspiration and art reference. It was on one of these insightful hikes in the Joshua Tree National Park that the thought of sculpting a 3D Joshua Tree first occurred to me.

My wall sculptures sell at the California Welcome Center in Yucca Valley, since 2022, after winning first place in 3D, in their annual art competition. My sculptures took first place in 3D, two years in a row at the Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, I was honored to be an awards judge. A whole new learning experience! They also sell at JT Trading Post in downtown Joshua Tree, and at Hi-Desert Daydream in Twentynine Palms.

And now my story has come full-circle. I can’t wait to introduce some brand new concepts soon! To learn more, see videos of me working, and my other art, please visit my website.

I used to have this voice in my head saying, “To be successful, you must focus on just one thing.” Now I listen to my heart, which says, “Just be you, and do what you love.” That makes me very happy <3

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In the Morongo Basin, there’s so much to do! To eat, in Morongo Valley, it’s Morongo Cafe for the best breakfasts, and Dillion’s for their famous fall-off-the-bone ribs, and great sides, all reasonably priced. Walk through a short hallway, and you’re in Coyote Cone, for all the ice cream and treats you could want.

Some of my favorites in Yucca Valley are- Aki Sushi, a place we visit regularly, and often meet with family or friends to celebrate occasions. Hi-Desert Artists, has two wonderful art galleries, a beautiful shop with unique gifts and artistic treasures, and offers arts and crafts classes, and educational lectures. The California Welcome Center features the art of over forty local artists (including me), and has a wide variety of souvenirs, gifts, and great information- both are non-profit community focused organizations.

In Joshua Tree, Sky High Pie has incredible pizza and more, and Crossroads is a long time local’s favorite. I’d definitely take my friend hiking in the Joshua Tree National Park, and visit JT Trading Post, a modern-day interpretation of this age-old concept.

Twentynine Palms is home to the a lot of public art, the new Freedom Plaza, a multi-faceted complex with a three-block long paseo, the Twentynine Palms Historical Society and Art Gallery, and so many shops and eateries. Each community of our hi-desert has many unique offerings!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I am today with my art, if it wasn’t for the support, love, and encouragement of many people in my life- especially my family and my four beautiful daughters, who have tolerated the rollercoaster lifestyle of a full-time artist.

But I’d like to dedicate this Shoutout to my father, John, who passed away over 30 years ago. It was he who truly first inspired me by always taking photos and home video. We’d periodically gather ’round with popcorn and watch the family movies and laugh, and sometimes cry. That’s when I first conceived the notion of creating something that emotionally moved people, and I wanted to do that.

Website: https://lindashrader.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindashraderstudios/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindashraderstudios

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@lindashraderstudios

Image Credits
Linda Shrader