About Mike Kleimo
Mike Kleimo graduated from the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, California, with a BFA in Advertising Art and Design. In Seattle he had his own graphic design agency and has worked as a technical illustrator and art director, but never strayed far from the fine arts. Kleimo has shown his work in Seattle, San Francisco, Puerto Vallarta and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He lives and paints in San Miguel de Allende.
Artist Statement
I work mostly in watercolor, pushing the transparent aspects of the medium. I use the techniques of "overglazing" and layering to achieve bright color and strong contrast while trying to keep the fluid features of watercolor intact. My compositions pay special attention to shapes created by twisted perspectives and exaggerated form. I like to paint landscapes and city scenes on site in outdoor daylight -"plein air". Mostly, those places that involve old churches, machinery, trucks, tire shops, cantinas, hombres, landscapes and rustic architecture in the campo pueblos. Scenes from Atotonilco, Mineral de Pozos, Santa Rosa and San Miguel de Allende are included in my work.
The pictures are "pure" watercolor in the sense that they employ only the white of the paper to get light into the composition. Paper plays an important part and good quality paper, Arches 300lb watercolor paper, is used. The pigments, Winsor & Newton LTD, Daniel Smith, are the finest for maximum staining, longevity and brightness.
Simple hardwood frames are handmade by Bob Taylor in Orduña, Mexico.
For more information visit his website: mikekleimo.com
Artist Statement
I work mostly in watercolor, pushing the transparent aspects of the medium. I use the techniques of "overglazing" and layering to achieve bright color and strong contrast while trying to keep the fluid features of watercolor intact. My compositions pay special attention to shapes created by twisted perspectives and exaggerated form. I like to paint landscapes and city scenes on site in outdoor daylight -"plein air". Mostly, those places that involve old churches, machinery, trucks, tire shops, cantinas, hombres, landscapes and rustic architecture in the campo pueblos. Scenes from Atotonilco, Mineral de Pozos, Santa Rosa and San Miguel de Allende are included in my work.
The pictures are "pure" watercolor in the sense that they employ only the white of the paper to get light into the composition. Paper plays an important part and good quality paper, Arches 300lb watercolor paper, is used. The pigments, Winsor & Newton LTD, Daniel Smith, are the finest for maximum staining, longevity and brightness.
Simple hardwood frames are handmade by Bob Taylor in Orduña, Mexico.
For more information visit his website: mikekleimo.com