Linda Klein, Artist
Linda Klein Biography
Linda Klein is an eco-conscious Bay Area, California Artist who describes herself as being on a creative journey to discover the balance and harmony between realism and abstract.
Her ability to draw was discovered by her parents and teachers as early as preschool. Hence, her exploration in the Arts began as soon as she was able to grip a crayon, drawing and coloring on whatever surfaces she could find from walls to tables and even in the family's encyclopedias. As soon as Linda was old enough, her parents enrolled her in local art classes to channel her creative urges (and to save their home and belongings).
Today, her primary source of inspiration for her richly diverse subject matter comes from her current surroundings in the wild and beautiful settings of West Marin where she has resided since 2019. Klein's style varies greatly depending on which Series (or Collection) she is working on. Characterized by either tonal colors and detailed graphite drawings, or bright splashes of pigment in rhythmic shapes, enhanced with recycled collage, her work travels a broad spectrum of application and presentation.
Much of Linda Klein's past work consists of detailed pencil drawings and portraits characterized by her measuring lines or 'tick marks'. She often highlights her renderings with watercolors and charcoal powders to enhance tonal qualities and add greater depth.
The majority of Klein's work today focuses on lively colors and ecology. Combining multilayers of watercolor with the addition of texture from collaged bits of litter she cleans up off of her adopted section of California scenic highways and her junk mail to bring greater purpose to her work. It's not a rare thing on any given day to find Linda digging in her recycle bin for creative materials. These exciting paintings rejoice in nature and provide a gentle reminder to be better stewards of our planet. They provide trees which were destroyed to make paper and eventually become litter, the opportunity to become beautiful tree-scapes once again.
Most uniquely, while graphite and watercolor work is generally done on paper requiring expensive framing and issues with fragile and glaring glass, Linda mounts high quality watercolor paper, which she purchases in large rolls, onto wood panels of all sizes, thus removing the need for framing and glass. All work is protected with two coats of archival matte varnish. The result is a more contemporary and durable work of art that is ready to hang. Many of her wood panels are handcrafted by her talented woodworking husband, David Anderson.
In addition to open studio tours in her home in San Anselmo, Klein has exhibited her artwork in solo and group exhibitions throughout the Bay Area including the Marin MOCA - National Juried Exhibit featuring Juror Catharine Clark, Director/Owner of Catharine Clark Gallery and at the Seager Gray Gallery in Mill Valley/San Francisco, CA. Currently her work exhibits year round at the PASSDOOR in Sonoma, CA on the renown and lively Sonoma Square. Klein has studied at multiple of California Colleges in addition to private lessons with San Francisco Academy of the Arts Instructor, John McCormick.
Linda Klein’s efforts continue to be about creative education, observing other artists she admires, and discovering a harmonious dance between documentation and creating a new reality with an even greater intensity.
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