The Art of... feature
Story by Ashley Elvington • Higher Grounds Photography
IN BETWEEN HER FREELANCE WORK, Vicky participates in
art residencies, which she has been doing for the past nine years.
After attending several S.C. Arts Commission Conferences, her
name was added to the list of approved artists. This month, Vicky
will be at Kershaw Elementary for a four-day residency. “I teach
oil painting using water-mixable oil paints. We will complete a 5”x
5” painting in a fifty-minute time slot. I also teach students about
values, color mixing on the canvas, and how to use cotton swabs
to remove paint and create a glow that you cannot get with white
paint. I love seeing them get excited about accomplishing a painting on their own, and I have fun doing it.” She also hosts “Chalk
Talks,” a special lecture where the speaker uses art to convey a
message. Vicky’s message? The word of God. “After doing my first
‘Chalk Talk,’ I knew I wanted to learn more about the craft. I am
bashful about talking to people. I try to share the love of Christ,
but most times fall short. However, art empowers me. It is a blessing and a gift from God. The fact that I love to draw and I want
to share the message of love and forgiveness of our Savior Jesus
“I TOOK OVER SIXTY PHOTOS OF HIM IN VARIOUS POSES. As we were nearing the end of the session,
Christ shows me that I need to combine the two and let the pic-
I asked him to step out of the room and go back to his Army days, to pretend that he was about to go into a room
ture paint a thousand words. Fortunately, my husband is a gifted
where his top troops were at a table waiting for him to give them some very important information. I wanted him
writer and speaker, so he is now the ‘talk’ while I am the ‘chalk.’
to come back into the room where I was, sit down in the chair, and pause just before speaking so I could capture
He and I have both have had a true heart change and are seeing
the expression. When he came in and sat down, he leaned forward and had ‘the look.’ I knew this was the photo
the Bible in a whole new light. We want to try to get the real mes-
to paint. I spent the summer of 2015 painting it and entered it in the South Carolina State Fair this past October,
sage of Jesus out to people. Many in this world think Christians
which won ‘Best of Show.’ ” As beloved as it is, this portrait was the most challenging for her to create. “He has
are judgmental and mean, or greedy. The message of Christ is to
a flexibility issue in one of his hands, and I had to change the position of it to translate into the painting. I spent
love God and love your neighbor. When you truly love God, loving
many hours painting the hand. It was too important not to give it my full attention. I was elated with the results.
your neighbor is easy. We all need to help each other. Lift each
The look in his eyes shows the deep conviction of a good man who cares and loves his fellowman. His hands are
other up. Forgive. Love. In thirty years, I want children to remem-
a part of that expression - always poised and ready for action; never idle. The painting shows his greatness. That
ber the message of the ‘Chalk Talk,’ even if they don’t remember
is what I wanted the world to see.”
the name of the ‘glow-in-the-dark lady’ or the soldier standing
In March 2015, Vicky won “Best of Show” at the Cheraw Fine Art Show for her first painting in the Vessels series.
next to her bringing the Word.”
One of these paintings will also be in this year’s ArtFields competition. “I only have a few pieces done so far in that
Vicky’s artist statement on her website goes as follows: “Find
series, but it will be growing rapidly this year. I am glad that I have a painting that will be a part of such a large
the rhythm of the brush strokes by listening to the music with-
and well-respected exhibition. I am excited about this new series. I feel we are vessels in the eyes of God, made
in.” For Vicky, each day is yet another blessing to express her in-
to demonstrate His love (2 Corinthians 4:7-12).” While awards are greatly appreciated, what Vicky enjoys most
ner passion. “There is a yearning inside of me that only art can
about exhibits is seeing others connect with her work. “In sports, you would liken it to hitting a walk-off home
quench. For farmers, it is when those little green sprouts come
run, a helmet-catch to beat the Patriots, or a three-point shot to win a basketball game. For golfers, a hole-in-
out of the ground. For soldiers, it is when you not only fight for
one…There is nothing like that feeling.” In addition to ArtFields, she has also been a part of the Piccolo Spoleto
your country, but realize the soldier mentality helps fulfill the
Juried Art Exhibition in Charleston, another meaningful exhibit. “Spoleto is one of the places to be if you are an
need to protect others all the time. For musicians, it is strum-
artist. Having one of my Eddins Road paintings make it there was truly gratifying.”
ming a guitar or singing a song. For writers , it is when poetry
Named after the road on which Vicky and Jim live, the ongoing Eddins Road series is another treasure to Vicky,
happens…even when the words don’t rhyme. For mothers, it is
who was inspired by the Eddins family history. “Our house is about 100 years old. My husband grew up here living
when your child hugs you and says, ‘I love you.’ I struggle with not
with his aunt and uncle. We bought the house in 1997 and moved in permanently in January 2000. At first, I hated
making art my identity; instead, I make it my release. I want it to
the dirt road. Our cars were in a constant state of red dust. All I could think about was if the road would ever get
be for the glorification of our Heavenly Father. I now know that it
paved. Then one day, I read an editorial about living on a dirt road. I realized that there is a lot of character in
is something I must share.”
this old road. It has seen mules plow the fields, [has] watched tobacco and cotton grow, [has] felt the high of the
Roaring Twenties and the low of the Great Depression. It has been through World War I, World War II, Korean War,
Vietnam, and now the Middle East Wars. It has experienced births and deaths of generations of the Eddins family.
It is a hot, dusty road in July. It is a welcome sign when coming home after a long day. It is a river when it rains
too much… It is still here. It is where I have enjoyed a quiet country life with my best friend. It is home for me.”
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APRIL 2016
Vicky McLain resides in Chesterfield, South Carolina, with her husband Jim. She has one stepdaughter, Jenny Caffery, and four grandchildren. To view more of Vicky’s work, visit www.drivenbyart.com
or on social media - @McLainStudio (Twitter) and McLainStudio
(Facebook).
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