Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Portrait |
Title |
Bobby Osborne |
Catalog Number |
2023.45.1 |
Creator |
Adams, Linda Gail, 1951-2022 |
Date |
2013 |
Material(s) |
Acrylic/Canvas/Wood |
Dimensions |
H-24 W-20.125 inches |
Description |
This portrait was painted by Linda Gail Adams in 2013. It depicts Bobby Osborne, co-founder of the musical group the Osborne Brothers. Bobby Osborne is shown wearing a white suit and a white hat with a blue band. His black shirt has a white collar and white ruffle down the center and at the sleeve cuffs outlined in red. He has dark brown hair and is wearing silver wire-rimmed glasses. Bobby's right hand is touching the brim of his hat, while his left hand holds a dark brown Gibson guitar in front of his body. His left sleeve has "Bobby Osborne" written inside a gold oval. The artist has signed the painting in the bottom right corner, while Bobby Osborne has signed across his raised right arm in blue. |
Notes |
Linda Gail Adams (1951-2022) was born in Beverly, Bell County, Kentucky and raised in southern Leslie County. She married Douglas "Doug" Adams in 1967 and had two sons, Tobey and Anthony. They also raised a niece, Robyn. Doug worked for Blue Diamond Coal and later Hubb Coal, while Linda worked for LKLP, CAC Hyden Office, part of the Community Action Council network that served Leslie, Knott, Letcher and Perry counties. Linda learned to quilt and sew from her mother. Linda took up art in 2004, when her niece Robyn came to live with her and Doug. She took a few community art classes at the Leslie County Extension Office and developed her own styles, techniques, and mediums, using everything from oils to acrylics. She especially loved painting wildlife and landscape opaintings as well as animals. Her art typically depicted types of wildlife that could be seen in and around Leslie County. She started painting portraits after being asked to paint one of a family member, which turned out so well that others in the community began requesting portraits. Doug and Linda eventually relocated to Lexington, Kentucky, to live with their son Tobey as they both battled cancer. Doug passed in 2020 while Linda passed in 2022. Linda's remaining catalog includes approximately 140 paintings, which remain with members of her family. Bobby Van Osborne (1931-2023) was a co-founder of the Osborne Brothers, a popular and influential bluegrass act that performed from the 1960s through 2005. Bobby and his brother, Sonny, spent their childhood in Hyden, Leslie County, Kentucky, before moving to Dayton, Ohio. Bobby's primary instrument was the mandolin while Sonny played the banjo. They caused minor controversy among the Bluegrass music community by incorporating electronic and percussion instruments into their music. They have been inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. The Osborne Brothers visited Leslie County often and lent their name to a bluefrass festival, which is where Linda met them and got permission to paint Bobby. She ultimately created three portraits, all of which he signed. Bobby kept one for himself and the other two remained with Linda. |
Collection |
Linda Adams Collection |
People |
Van Osborne, Bobby, 1931-2023 Adams, Linda Gail, 1951-2022 |
Subjects |
Music festivals Musicians Painters (Artists) Paintings Portrait paintings Artists Women |
Search Terms |
Leslie County (Ky.) Hyden (Ky.) Bluegrass music Women |