Meet Lynn Goldstein | Original Abstract Landscape Painter & Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lynn Goldstein and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lynn, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I’m generally a risk-averse person, influenced by my upbringing. However, whenever I’ve dared to take a leap, I’ve found it rewarding. One significant risk I took was moving to an unfamiliar area after college, rather than returning home or joining friends elsewhere. It wasn’t easy, but I’m grateful for the experience.

After seventeen years as a graphic designer, I took another leap into full-time fine art. It was a major career shift, but one I haven’t regretted. Teaching adults was another risk, leading me to teach locally and in France, Portugal, and Italy.

In 2008, I rented a studio outside my home, which initially posed financial challenges but proved invaluable for my creativity and connections with other artists. This environment sparked ideas and led to some of my work being displayed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

Working with art business consultants was yet another risk that paid off, improving my understanding of business for artists.

I have applied for artist residencies which can be perceived as taking a risk on myself. As a result, one of my most transformative experiences was a one month artist residency in France.

Most recently, I shifted from representational to abstract art—a daunting change despite prior success. But I’m forging ahead, understanding that risks are necessary for personal and professional growth.

Risks can seem —well—risky, but sometimes not taking a risk will stop us from moving ahead in life and in our work. So, risk is simply a part of living life to the fullest.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

For at least the initial five years post-college, I kept my artwork tucked away. My professors were tough critics and consistently hammered that I lacked any talent. Their words left me doubting until a fellow artist friend refuted what had been said. That boost of confidence changed everything. It spurred me to tackle the insecurities surrounding my fine art journey head-on.

I squeezed in art classes during evenings and weekends between my graphic design work. Creating art became my lifeline—I simply couldn’t envision life without it.

Fast forward seventeen years in the design world, and I reached a pivotal moment. I sensed a need for change, a calling to dive fully into art. It was a now-or-never situation, a decision I knew I’d regret ignoring. I haven’t looked back.

Surprisingly, my graphic design background became a defining factor in my art. Through design, I honed skills in composition and color that now infuse my work with a unique perspective.

My art journey has been one of constant exploration. After studying portraiture for several years, I started making representational landscapes. But as my craving for experimentation grew, I returned to my roots: oil paint. Then came acrylics, which helped me push the boundaries further. Today, my art is made up of abstract landscapes, and work that is non-objective.

I am deeply intrigued by history and the gradual passage of time evident in weathered frescoes, worn paint on building walls, and the intricate textures of the natural world.

To emulate these textures in my work, I use multiple paint layers, marks, and imperfections created by the use of unconventional art-making tools such as trowels, scrapers, sandpaper, and chisels. The magic lies in the unknown using these tools, and I am excited to see where the next experiment takes me.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow! There are so many people that have impacted me in a positive way in my career and life. I will keep this short.

I would never have been able to do what I have done as a person and as an artist without the support of my husband. He has been the best decision that I made in my life. Our son has been a bright shining light in my life as well. He understands me in ways that I would have never expected when I held him in my arms.

I have some wonderful friends who have cheered me on over the years, some are lifelong friends that have always been there for me, and I am grateful for them more than I can say.

A shoutout to Alyson Stanfield from Art Biz Success. Working with her has been invaluable, connecting me with talented artists globally and providing me with two fantastic accountability partners.

Website: https://www.lynngoldstein.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynngoldstein_art/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LandscapesbyLynn

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw8xxjQc0ov3srtIM1gc6fQ

Image Credits
Lynn Goldstein