By Kathy L. Collins
The featured artist during the month of June in Mook Gallery at Center Place in Brandon is Christopher Leo Klein. He is a prolific painter who creates thoughtful and beautiful works of art with oils as well as colored pencil and watercolor. Klein is president of the Brandon League of Fine Arts.
Klein is influenced by the Renaissance painters of Northern Europe.
“My work is a blend of artistic skills which are expressed in my personal treatment of landscapes, object and figural work. I paint in a realistic style when I make that choice such as portraits, still life and landscape,” said Klein. He explained that his paintings of a still life will have a painting within a painting.
Klein attributes much of his success to his mother who was an artist. Klein simply loves art, both creating it and advocating for it. He has spent his entire life creating. First he worked as a 3D engraver making coin dyes and molds. Then he went back to school and became a graphic designer, which he continues to do on a part time basis.
Klein loves Florida landscapes and paints plein air, which is a French expression that means “in the open air” and is used to describe the act of painting outdoors. In other words, Klein paints what he sees as he sees it. He does not take photos and then paint the image.
Klein has over 45 works of art in the exhibit all of which can be purchased through Center Place through the end of June. A portion of the proceeds from the sales benefits Center Place which is a partner with the Brandon League of Fine Arts.
The Brandon League of Fine Arts meets on the third Monday of the month at Center Place located at 619 Vonderburg Dr. in Brandon beginning at 7:30 p.m. Prior to each meeting, there is a “Paint It/Take It” from 6:30-7:15 p.m. There are no meetings during the months of June and July. Klein said of the Brandon League of Fine Arts, “It is a growing organization filled with talented and amazing people. We are lucky to have a fine partner such as Center Place.”
To discuss his paintings, Klein can be reached at 685-9069. For more information on Center Place, visit www.centerplacebrandon.org. For more information on the Brandon League of Fine Arts, visit www.blfa.us.
