Linda Blount Maphet could be called a late bloomer. There was early childhood evidence of artistic abilities, but after having lived on three continents and in four states, she chose a career teaching high school English and history. Still a newcomer to the art field, Ms. Maphet has only painted professionally for about two years. However, she believes that the gift of painting has opened her eyes to “seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary” in the world around her. The study of artists like Sargent, Sorolla, and Rembrandt inspired her painting style, and although portraiture remains Linda Maphet’s first love artistically, she currently indulges a life-long fascination with the variety of color, textures and patterns in the amazing beauty of the Creation, spending more time on still lifes and landscapes.