Toby R. Klein of Hoover, Alabama
I began violin lessons at an early age, not understanding the value of this knowledge at the time. Years later I attempted to play the violin again and found, much to my regret, that I did not know a single note. Despite this, my love for music is still evident in my art. To begin the process for Center Stage, I laid strips of four-ply rag board on a sheet of plastic, sprayed it with water and poured different colors of acrylic inks—making sure that the sides of each strip were covered with paint also. Next, using a sheet of hand-dyed paper for the background, I began to build up the piece into a three dimensional collage—layering different length strips with the different widths of my mats. I then wove strings from violins and guitars through the strips and collaged parts of different instruments. Musical notes, which I painted and cut out of watercolor paper, and postage stamps of classical composers and conductors were added to complete the piece. By placing the strips in a diagonal pattern, I lead the viewer's eyes to the center of the painting while pulling together my thoughts of watching the orchestra play beautiful music down on "Center Stage."

"Given you Bundles of Love"

Finalist "The Artist Magazine" 2003

Accepted  National Acrylic Painters Association show

Article in the " Watercolor " magazine Winter 2001 issue.