Date of Award

5-1991

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Studio Art

Department

Art

First Advisor

Dean Eckert

Second Advisor

Grant Hargate

Third Advisor

John Pohlman

Abstract

This thesis explores the creative process and thematic focus in the studio artwork of Linda Eileen Thias, with particular attention to the recurring motifs of orchids and fish. These natural forms serve as both visual inspiration and symbolic anchors in her artistic practice, reflecting her fascination with the elegance of organic design and its capacity for abstraction. The study examines how Thias interprets and reimagines these motifs through multiple mediums, including painting, ceramics, and fabric-based work, thereby creating a body of art that is both unified in theme and diverse in execution.

A key aspect of her process involves the influence of quilt patterns, the Cuna mola appliqué tradition, and Aboriginal design, which inform her approaches to composition, layering, and color. These cultural references provide a framework for the integration of intricate patterning and bold, rhythmic structures that echo natural forms while expanding into new visual territories. Through this synthesis, her artwork engages with both craft traditions and contemporary studio art practices.

The thesis further reflects on the studio environment as a site of experimentation, where materials and forms are continuously reworked. By analyzing the methods of cutting, layering, and assembling, it demonstrates how the repetition of motifs becomes a meditation on process as much as subject matter. The interplay between representation and abstraction in Thias’s art suggests a dialogue between personal expression, cultural heritage, and the universal appeal of natural imagery.

Ultimately, the work situates orchids and fish not only as recurring motifs but also as conceptual bridges that connect material processes, cultural influences, and the artist’s evolving creative identity. This investigation offers insight into how individual motifs, when developed across varied mediums, can articulate broader themes of continuity, transformation, and interconnectedness in contemporary art.

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