Check out Wendy Kleine’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Kleine.

Wendy, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Throughout my life my Mother was constantly building, sewing or creating some piece of art. She exposed myself and my 3 siblings to as much art as she could, whether it was a trip to the Art Institute in Chicago where we lived when I was young or even with the board game “Masterpiece” when I was older and lived in the small mountain community of Lake Arrowhead California. It was here in Lake Arrowhead during High School that I fell in love with painting. I left for San Diego to get my college degree in art, however, half way through I was offered a full-time job at Chaparral High in El Cajon as an Aide in Wood Shop, which I absolutely loved doing, and I excepted the position and put College on hold, as well as my own artwork.

Nine years later I opened the “Great Frame Up” in Hillcrest which was a custom do-it-yourself frame shop. Six months into it, at the age of 28, I suffered a Stroke and had to learn to speak and walk again, as well as run a business. Luckily my brother managed the store and kept it going for me. But there was still no time to produce my own art. Fast forward 25 years, I have a grown daughter and supportive husband, and have been teaching after school art classes to elementary school kids at my home and Blessed Sacrament Academy, which I love doing. Eventually the parents of the children I am teaching ask me to teach them how to paint, which I am currently doing. Fast forward another 5 years and a friend asked me to do an Art Show with him and another artist at 10th Avenue Art Center in downtown San Diego. I said sure, but I had no paintings! It was time to get started. So, 30 some years later I started to paint again!

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I mostly work in watercolor and acrylics on canvas, however, my mind wonders all over the place and I am constantly trying other medias all the time. The subject of my art, at this time, is floral, birds and animals, and funky faces. I have a studio in my San Diego home, but I love most of all is to create at my cabin in Lake Arrowhead outside on my deck where I am surrounded by Cedars, Pines and Dogwoods. I am very, very inspired by Mother Nature. I would have to say my artwork goes back and forth from Impressionism to Expressionism and occasionally abstract. When people see my artwork, I want them to smile or go ‘wow’ in a positive way.

Do current events, local or global, affect your work and what you are focused on?
I’m not sure if the current events have changed the way artists express themselves today. I believe that every artist, including myself, should be able to express themselves in any way they want, no matter what is going on in the world.

For myself, if current events are affecting me I try and turn it into a positive piece of artwork (see my Rhino and Giraffe paintings). Honestly, there is so much negativity on the news I have stopped watching. I feel a strong need to create something fun and positive to look at. Something that makes you smile or feel peaceful, like a bouquet of flowers.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I feel very fortunate to have my work licensed with Leftbank Art in Los Angeles where reproductions of my paintings can be purchased. Original artwork can be seen at my San Diego studio by contacting me. You can ‘friend’ me on Facebook at Wendy Colt Kleine to find out about gallery showings, adult painting classes and Kids Summer Camps.

Contact Info:

• Phone: (619)708-0444
• Email: kleine243@gmail.com
• Instagram: coltkleine
• Facebook: Wendy Colt Kleine

Image Credit:
Wendy Kleine