Art at the Bellefield

25 Old Vineyard Place, Hyde Park, NY 12538

Arts Mid-Hudson partnered with the Inn at Bellefield at Hyde Park, in a collaboration to feature our Arts Mid-Hudson member’s work throughout the hotel on a six-month rotating basis. The local artists’ work is showcased on the elevator landing strips of every floor and complements the historic/agricultural branding of the hotel.

Art at the Bellefield Artist Talk
Thursday, November 13, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
at Inn at Bellefield at Hyde Park

Join Us for an Immersive Artist Talk Experience!
Discover the creative process of using alcohol ink as artist Linda Lavin shares insights into her artistic journey, influences, and current work during an intimate Artist Talk.

This is an opportunity to hear directly from the artist. Whether you're an art lover, student, or fellow creative, you’ll leave inspired and energized.
Location: 25 Old Vineyard Place Hyde Park, NY 12538

Click Here To RSVP!

Linda Lavin
Alcohol Ink Artist

  • For more than 40 years, Linda Lavin has called the verdant Hudson Valley of New York home, while remaining deeply proud of her Vermont roots. Her vibrant alcohol ink paintings immediately evoke the natural beauty that has surrounded her throughout her life.

    A lifelong creative spirit, Linda discovered painting a little over a decade ago and was quickly captivated by the luminous possibilities of color. Her semi-abstract images often echo impressionistic landscapes, alive with flow and movement. Using alcohol inks, she works without brushes, instead embracing the fluid, unpredictable techniques that the medium invites. By painting on impervious surfaces such as tile, glass, and yupo paper, Linda creates works that are both dynamic and distinctive.

    Her award-winning pieces are treasured by collectors across the country and are especially beloved in the Hudson Valley, where her art can be found in homes, businesses, galleries, and boutiques. In addition to frequent exhibitions, Linda welcomes visitors to explore her studio by appointment.

  • What do Q-tips, straws, and credit cards have to do with my art?   Though I’ve always been a creative person, never a visual artist, over a decade ago I happened upon a painting created with alcohol ink and was captivated by the vibrancy and luminous expression of color.  I couldn’t get the unique beauty out of my mind and became compelled to pursue and express using this medium; my life as a painter was launched. 

    My practice centers on a co-creative process of discovery.  Done without brushes, ink is dropped on impervious surfaces (yupo paper or ceramic tile), then slowly moved by tilting, scraping and blending the ink with the kinds of tools mentioned above.  As the inks flow and bloom a myriad of colors and shades emerge. The process of coaxing the ink through timing and choice of tools allows the painting to emerge.  Alcohol inks are blends of basic colors.  As such when applied and allowed to mingle an array of “found colors” materializes.  For example the painting Yellow Bloom  (see website: Linda-Lavin.art) is composed of only yellow and black ink but subtle greens, orange and peach emerged through my process.  My paintings typically use 2 or 3 colors of ink with all other colors resulting from the interaction of the inks.  Blended colors often create neutrals that occur more naturally in the “real world” thus lending unity to the paintings.  See Full Moon.  Mixing inks with a coffee stirrer results in a graded blend of color whereas application of a contrasting ink that then meets a dryer area results in the emergence of lines.  A ridge becomes a horizon ready for more ink to define details and features.  Reflection Lakeis an example of this process.   Additional alcohol or more ink revives the liquidity allowing me to further refine the design, add texture, and create embellishments. 

    Inspired by the natural world of the mountains, waters, and skies of the Hudson Valley my work creates a sense of joy, wonder, and connection to nature.  This appreciation helps tie us to our desire to respect and protect the environments around us.  “Nature is painting for us day after day, pictures of infinite beauty.” John Ruskin

    Engaging with my audience delivers another level of discovery.  What I might see as a series of mountains someone else sees as a beach, and yet another person sees an otherworldly scene.  Listening to people reminisce about the sand flats of Utah or mountains of Colorado where they once lived is delightful.  My art, through these connections, becomes whatever someone sees in it.  Photographing the images allows me to reproduce my designs in a variety of ways from giclee prints to scarves thus allowing me to share my art with others.   Shouldn’t everyone have access to art they find beautiful and meaningful?

    My art career has grown steadily since I began.  I have chosen to devote myself to art, to learn more techniques, and to enhance my understanding of color, form, and presentation.  There is much to discover and to share with others through my found sense of artistic expression.  I feel as vibrant as alcohol ink and alive with the wonder of the creative process!