Mary-Austin Klein

The focus of my small-scaled oil paintings starts literally through the lens of a camera. The work combines my love of photography with painting. The photographic images I take document the fractured and contorted landscape of California. I choose only the truly sublime images that capture more than just a beautiful panorama. My compositions express the tension felt underneath the landforms. A passive mountain is anything but. The presence of tectonic force is in the brooding skies, the rich colors, and looming mountains which are key elements in my paintings. Through these paintings I am promoting the beauty of our fragile environment, as protection of these vistas from development is a large part of my motivation as an artist. Visit the artist's website at www.maryaustinklein.com <http://www.maryaustinklein.com>