Artist Biographies

At a young age, Nicole spent hours drawing and painting, always looking for new ways to express her creativity. In high school, she interned in the art department of an advertising agency. As a young adult, she opened an art studio in a trendy part of downtown Reno, where she worked with casino owners, private business owners, and collectors. She created fine art pieces for private clients, designed characters for a business start-up, and collaborated with a local contractor to produce large copper-tooled pieces for Harrah’s Hotel and Casino.

Nicole has exhibited in several Artown shows, an annual month-long summer arts festival, and has served as the lead artist in multiple shows in northern Nevada. In 2016, she earned certifications in Adobe Videography and Graphic Design from the University of Nevada, Reno.

After moving to San Diego, Nicole joined the Contemporary Arts Committee, a support group of the San Diego Museum of Art. She designed a logo for the Scripps Industry Bridge Program and created a new identity for Honey Donuts in Santee, which later led to designing and painting a large installation for the shop.

Nicole volunteered as an art teacher at her child’s elementary school from 2008 to 2020. She also served as the first-chair lead for the Reflections Art Program, a national art competition, from 2013 to 2020. The program offered six different art categories and encouraged students to apply what they learned across visual, music, film, dance, and writing disciplines.

She has illustrated a CD cover for a songwriter and is currently collaborating with an author to illustrate a book. After completing a mural for the Santee Library, Nicole began receiving frequent teaching requests. Since 2009, she has taught art fundamentals to students from 4th grade through high school and has led painting workshops for adults. She continues to develop her skills by studying with active professionals in the art and animation industry and enjoys inspiring others through creative projects.

Chrysanne’s watercolors have shown in judged exhibitions including The San Diego Watercolor Society, Foothills Art Association, The Mandell Weiss Gallery in Liberty Station, and the Inamori Pavilion at the Japanese Friendship Garden. In addition to fine art, she makes handcrafted cards and jewelry, available at the San Diego Museum of Art and Oceanside Museum of Art gift shops as well as the occasional local craft fair. 

Linda began studying art in San Diego, California, where she attended Southwest High School. She later received a paid scholarship to study commercial advertising art. Her professional career started in commercial design, creating logos and advertising concepts for companies such as No Fear, 8 Ball-Snowboard, Church’s Chicken, and Shorebreak.

Over the years, her work has earned multiple honors, including the United States Achievement Academy Award in Art and the Bank of America Achievement Award. Although commercial design brought success, her deeper inspiration has always come from the ocean. A former surfer, she developed a strong connection to the water, and that connection grew as she learned more about the environmental threats facing marine life.

Today, her artwork reflects the resilience of ocean species and her commitment to ocean conservation. In addition to her creative work, she serves as president of the East County Art Association and is dedicated to supporting her community through the arts.

Linda has partnered with organizations such as Go Surf and The Surfrider Foundation on murals, festivals, and fundraising events focused on beach cleanup and environmental awareness.