Q&A with Lynne McCain

Artists Incorporated Art Gallery, located in the “Little Red Barn” on Morgan Drive in Vestavia Hills, displays work from more than 50 local artists. On the first Friday of each month, the public is invited to a Featured Artist reception to enjoy refreshments and meet the artists. This month’s featured artist is Lynne McCain.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a Birmingham native. I graduated from Auburn University and majored in math and science. A friend encouraged me to join her in an art class, and I was hooked from then on. Several years of “hobby level” classes created a hunger for more formal instruction so I went back to school and earned an art degree from the University of Montevallo. I’ve been painting and showing my work in the Birmingham area ever since. In 1999, I helped found Artists Incorporated Gallery, where I serve on the Board of Directors. My work may be seen at the gallery.

Describe the type of art you do.

My work is non-representational in style, primarily acrylic on canvas. Unencumbered by subject matter, I concentrate on design elements — line, shape, color. Layering techniques, textural effects, scraping, incising and calligraphic lines add movement, depth and playfulness to the strength of the composition.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Colors and shapes in nature and everyday life inspire me. I find inspiration in the spontaneous behavior of the pigments as they interact on the canvas; I attempt to exploit the serendipitous, while maintaining artistic control. 

What do you enjoy most about creating your art?

I like the analytical “problem solving” aspect. I continually critique as I paint — adding here, taking away there — with the goal of producing the strongest and most meaningful painting. This is fascinating to me; I’ve been told that this is a result of my math/science background.

What’s the greatest compliment you’ve ever received about your work?

The fact that people choose to live with my art and be enriched by it on a daily basis. I’m especially pleased when patrons purchase repeatedly.