Copyright Alliance

Remember those state quarters, the ones that came out a few at a time each year, until all 50 states had their own quarter? I do, because every time a new one came out I had to watch obsessively for them on behalf of my two kids, who were collecting them.

Artist Linda Frances did the U.S. Mint one better, creating a 51-state series (she included Puerto Rico) of paintings featuring state trees overlaying state maps. As you’ll see in our video interview with her, she was inspired by Einstein to combine two unlike things – completely arbitrary county lines and products of nature – to produce something new and inspiring.

Our own Lucinda Dugger met with Linda while in Colorado earlier this year. You may have seen a video interview Lucinda did with another Salida, Colorado, artist and gallery owner, Steph Brady. Both were drawn to Salida because they wanted to live in and participate in a town fueled by artists.

Linda sells paintings but also prints of her work. The prints, naturally, are less expensive, but prints are also vulnerable to digital piracy. She takes steps to reduce that risk, and markets herself online, while noting the high cost of Internet marketing.

You can see a thumbnail gallery of her state tree paintings here  and learn more about her and her gallery, Four Winds Studio, here .