Meet Linda Shores Caristo

LINDA SHORES CARISTO is a native of Hendersonville, North Carolina. Her pioneer ancestors on both sides of her family settled in the counties of Buncombe, Haywood, Madison, Henderson and Polk in the 1700’s. She cherishes her childhood memories of her family’s farm, cabin rental, and inn business. People from all over the country would come for the summer to escape the heat. Quilts, furniture, wreaths, and various other arts and crafts were made. The guests often participated in making these items and enjoyed it. It was this environment that laid the foundation for Linda’s profession as an artist.
In the 1970’s she enjoyed leather tooling. Her family considered art frivolous and she attended the University of Georgia and received a BBA with honors in 1980. Unhappy with her corporate job she spent as much time as she could in her studio painting country and wildlife scenes. About 1985 a major transition occurred. She started having strange reoccurring dreams about jewelry. “I would be walking on a mountain trail and see glimpses of jewelry shimmering through the dirt on a bank. I would be walking through a stream and see this beautiful jewelry beneath the water. While going through an abandoned old house I would find old jewelry in the dusty corner of a room.” She knew that she preferred to create with her hands. She had been a rock hound all of her life. Finally, she realized that making and designing jewelry utilized all of her strengths and skills – mechanical, design, knowledge of gem stones, and business knowledge. She immediately took a course at a local community center to learn the basics of jewelry making, bought the necessary equipment, and found her new passion in art. She learned further from master jewelers who were willing to share information with her and took a couple courses at Penland School of Crafts and Arrowmont. For the most part, however, Linda is self taught and utilizes skills and techniques that are her own.

In 1995 Linda quit her corporate job and has been a full time jewelry designer ever since. In 2003 she took “a leap of faith” and left Atlanta and moved back home to the mountains. She and her newly wed husband now live in the Asheville area on a farm that is about 3500 feet above sea level. Her studio is nestled into the side of a mountain with a beautiful creek and mountain view.
Many of Linda’s designs are inspired by the beauty of her mountain homeland. Animals, insects, and flowers that are found in western North Carolina are often reflected in her pieces. She is also heavily influenced by the designs of the Art Nouveau Era. A technique called plique a jour is sometimes incorporated into her work. A stained glass window effect is achieved by placing enamel into small cavities created by delicate piercing work. Many of her pieces have special meaning and some even tell stories.

Linda Shores Caristo is proudly represented by WICKWIRE fine art/folk art in Hendersonville, North Carolina