Congratulations to Chris Klein for earning his place as a Finalist in the Boynes Artist Award 9th Edition [Professional Artist category]!

Chris has also earned a place as Winner in the Monthly Art award [December 2023 Edition]

Who are you?

I’ve always drawn, as far back as I remember, I loved capturing what I see with pencil. So I guess I have always been an artist.

My family were all artistic, going into professions like cartography and drafting. They taught me ways to draw when I was very young. But I wasn’t encouraged to pursue it as a career. So it remained a hobby, although I had a few shows, selling my first painting when I was about 17.

I ended up working in the motor trade for many years, working my way up into management. But I got a break working for a couple of scenic artists for the theatre. Finally I was painting for a living, even if it was for someone else.

When I moved to Canada, the movie industry was another step, and I alternated with theatre work for some years. But in 2007 I was offered a full time position as the Head of Scenic Art for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ottawa, one of the largest classical theatres in North America. It was here that I started paying more attention to the vast array of costumes, as their warehouse was next door to my paintshop. This is where my passion for painting costumes really began.

What inspired you to utilize Painting as a medium?

I’ve drawn since I was very young. It was my sister who bought me a set of paints when I was about 14 that got me onto colour!

I’ve always wanted to capture what I see in front of me, so it was a natural progression to move onto painting.

How would you describe your ARTwork?

I hate being pigeonholed but I can’t avoid terms like “realism”!

But most of my costume paintings are more an homage to the designers. I always instil my own view, or interpretation, but I never intend to “improve” on the designers work. They work in a completely different medium, and I can actually bring their work to a completely different audience. People who never think about the costumes, even theatre goers sometimes tell me how stunned they are by the beauty of the costumes, and how they don’t always notice when on stage, as they are captured by the drama!

Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind your winning work?

During my journey, I became friends with Dame Zandra Rhodes, she is a famous designer, creating works for celebrities and royalty, people like Elizabeth Taylor, Donna Summer, and most famously Freddie Mercury from Queen.

Zandra recently collaborated with a shoe manufacturer, John Fluevog, she designed some beautiful pieces, very colourful, as are most of John’s shoes. I contacted John and he loved the idea that I create a painting from his collection.

Can you walk us through the technical steps of creating your winning work?

I contacted Fluevog’s closest store in Montreal and they allowed me to set up a little corner where I arranged and lit the shoes until I felt satisfied. My wife, Linda, works closely with me, and she set up the lighting and helped choose the best arrangement.

Once I have a selection of photos, I work with them in Photoshop. Making sure they fit well in a square canvas and sometimes moving or tweaking a shoe and re-working the light and shadow.

Only then do I start the painting.

What do you hope to communicate to an audience with your work?

Although I paint many subjects, if I were to describe my “Costume” series, I would say that I want to capture the essence of why the costume was made. Often it is a theatre piece, it should tell a story, it might be from a Shakespeare play. Who has worn it, what stage has it been seen. It is an homage to the designer, and to the actors and all those creatives who made it, long before I ever painted it.

Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of creating your work?

I’m stubborn and determined. I was against formal training, feeling that it’s better to experiment and find your own way. I didn’t like the old idea of repeating the style of the teacher, there can be so many ways of achieving the final result.

It was sometimes rewarding, but with age, I feel some artistic techniques may have speeded up my own development. But I am fortunate not to have had any real failures.

Can you discuss your biggest success since starting your artistic journey?

A very difficult one to answer as there have been several milestones in my career.

Selling my first painting when I was a hobby painter at 17 was a memorable moment. And my first job in theatre where, for the very first time, my skill as an artist was accepted as a real qualification. Also when Disney gave me a commission, very memorable!

But if I had to choose one that made the biggest difference to my career, I think it has to be when Bernarducci Gallery chose to represent me in New York. It gave my career a big boost and gave me much more visibility.

Can you share with us the best piece of advice you you wish you had known at the start of your career?

I thought I knew it when I started but you are never prepared enough to realise just how hard you have to work to get noticed. It’s a very tough job, especially if you hope to make a living from it.

But you need to follow your heart. Don’t be told what to paint, friends, other artists, and galleries all may try to steer your direction, but only you know where you want to go.

As a finalist, do you have any advice for artists who want to submit to awards, competitions, residencies, etc.?

Be prepared to “not win”. There are so many excellent artists out there, don’t be disappointed if you’re not chosen, just put it behind and keep going.

Try to do something that will catch people’s eye, as well as be skilfully painted. It’s hard to be original, almost everything’s been done before………….. But NOT everything!

What projects are you working on currently? Can you discuss them?

I hope to paint more from film, TV and pop culture, but they’re the hardest to gain permission.

Brian May from Queen has already let me photograph his private collection of show costumes, but now I have to deal with all the legal stuff, and that takes time.

There are some films and TV that I’m working on, I have producers, movie directors and the designers on my side, but it’s the big studios who have to give me the green light!

What is your dream project or piece you hope to accomplish?

I have many dream projects!!!!
I would dearly love to paint some of the incredible designs of people like Bob Mackie or Nicola Formichetti, designing the stunning costumes for folks like Elton John and Lady Gaga.

Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists, what is your advice?

We should all be a little humble, no matter how good we think we are, there are better artists out there. We never reach a “peak” of talent, we never stop learning, and there is always room for improvement.

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