Artist Linda Steele poses with “Mystery Woman,” which is one of her favorite pieces. Steele, a Leetonia resident, produced the 14-inch by 18-inch piece by using an acrylic glaze on a fluid metallic acrylic pour on the canvas. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

LEETONIA — In retirement, Linda Steele has found a new niche.

Once recognized as one of the nation’s top doll makers, Steele now is immersed in the world of fluid acrylic painting at the age of 79.

In contrast to the detailed sculpting associated with her initial career as a doll creator, Steele finds herself pouring acrylic paint on a canvas using several different techniques to spread and swirl it around, creating cells. Then she leaves it dry and returns to paint artwork on top of it once inspiration strikes.

It is a far cry from sculpting dolls; however, just as fulfilling if you ask Steele.

The oldest of three girls raised in Leetonia, Steele recalls her first Christmas without a doll as her mother had declared her too old.

Linda believes that is perhaps when her true destiny was set and yet to be revealed.

She eventually would graduate from Leetonia High School in 1964, move on to earn a degree in commercial art at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh before marrying her high school sweetheart and starting a family of her own.

Looking for an outlet, Steele joined a local ceramic class for a little “me time” a day each week.

During the course of the class, she created a porcelain “Kewpie” doll as a Christmas gift for her daughter.

Sadly it broke soon after the holiday, but Steele was hooked and began to create the sculptured dolls without any formal training,

She would go on to achieve massive success, while developing a reputation as an “A-list” doll designer of sculptured dolls with the lovely painted eyes.

Eventually Steele’s dolls were produced in limited edition for companies like HSN and Danbury Mint with replacement of her trademark painted eyes with glass or acrylic ones.

In 2017, she retired from making dolls, after being one of the top creators in her field and is just doing her art exclusively while spending time with family.

Described by one of her social media followers as the “Swiss Army knife of artists,” Steele has described her current adventure a success.

While people, especially children, served as inspiration for her dolls, nature is her muse these days.

Steele admits that wildlife probably is her favorite, but her works also can include children, landscapes or even a simple flower bouquet from the garden of her Oak Street home that catches her eye.

The process intrigues Steele, as it is like the painted canvas has to speak to her.

Her canvas can take the form of an actual canvas or sometimes a chair or a tabletop.

It depends on what speaks to her.

Steele relishes spending this summer with her husband Gary and the couple’s three children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.