Kindred Artist of the Week: Christine Kleinhenz

"No stroke is a mistake, it’s expression."

Presenting our Kindred Artist of the Week series! We are big fans of all the artists we work with and we are so excited to share their stories!

This week’s featured artist is the talented local artist Christine Kleinhenz, whose colorful work graces some of our most popular Alaskan greeting cards, and who will be teaching anyone and everyone how to DIY Block Print tonight during First Friday!

Who are you?

My name is Christine Kleinhenz. I’m a partner, painter, mother of two and a speech language pathologist with the school district.

What do you do?

My time is spent with family, friends and trying to find balance between work and relaxation. I love to read, fish and paint.

Who/what inspires you?

I’m inspired by people and nature. All those who have a passion for creating gives me courage to keep exploring my own creative path. The natural world around me and its beauty keep me studying and watching and wondering how to take a moment and create a feeling.

What’s your favorite moment in the process?

I have two. My first favorite moment is the excitement that builds as I see something I am drawn too. In study of that piece, I feel an energy that I want to share. My second favorite moment is when something I am exploring and feeling shows on the canvas. It’s the moment when all the strokes come together and the piece is close to being finished and when I look I feel.

What’s a trick of your trade, or a piece of advice for other artists in your medium?

Don’t be afraid to go for it. Use a lot of paint. Don’t be afraid to mix paints right on the canvas. No stroke is a mistake, it’s expression.

What’s next?

I am currently using six colors, mixing on canvas and exploring all the colors of a rainbow in one piece. The next step is to go big. I want to make a few big pieces by pouring paint directly into the canvas then blending with strokes to create background and image. This is going to be fun.

Stop by the shop tonight to make art with Christine!

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