About the Artist

Carissa Linder is a multidisciplinary artist rooted in Dayton, Washington, whose work spans airbrush, mural painting, raw canvas batik, metalsmithing, watercolor and acrylic instruction. Her practice reflects a deep connection to nature and a restless exploration of diverse mediums, driven by a passion for blending traditional and contemporary techniques.

Artistic Practice & Education: Linder holds a multidisciplinary studies degree with an emphasis in leadership and studio fine arts, with study that centralized around traditional two-dimensional methods, metalsmithing and sculpture. Her education laid the groundwork for a career marked by versatility and out-of-the-box thinking, in projects ranging from large-scale murals to intricate canvas work, custom duck decoy fabrication and conceptualization with Blue Collar Decoys - always striving to include her community.

Notable Projects

• Public Art & Murals: She has contributed to Boise’s Freak Alley Gallery events since 2011, transforming downtown alleys into vibrant art spaces. Her mural work for State Hospital South in Blackfoot, Idaho, includes therapeutic scenery walls and a gymnasium mural inspired by lotus blossoms, earning her the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Director’s Customer Service Award in 2015.
• Teaching & Community Engagement: A dedicated educator, Linder has taught in special education classrooms, hosted paint-and-sip courses, and provided one-on-one mentorship. She emphasizes creativity and connection, aiming to foster artistic expression across skill levels.
• Current Endeavors Relocating to Dayton, Washington, Linder plans to expand her community-focused initiatives, offering acrylic painting classes and eventually establishing an open studio for disciplines like watercolor, charcoal, and oil painting. She is working with local groups to create murals and spaces where art serves as a catalyst for community bonding.

Philosophy Linder’s work is driven by a belief in art’s transformative power, both personally and socially. She describes her approach as “purposeful play,” blending spontaneity with intentionality to explore themes of nature, identity, and healing.