Los Altos resident Caroline McClintic is a multimedia artist, using watercolor and textures to produce colorful pieces of urban and landscape settings.
Much of her work has been on display at Viewpoints Gallery in downtown Los Altos. Most recently, the gallery showcased her “Textured Landscapes” series – a collection of Northern California scenes made with texture media, collage and acrylic paint on a wood panel.
“I love being part of Viewpoints Gallery,” McClintic said. “I’ve always loved the downtown, and I enjoy feeling part of the downtown community.”
McClintic said she typically works in series, creating multiple paintings at a time of a similar theme. With “Texture Landscapes,” she wanted some pieces to be more abstract, but it was difficult to take risks with a deadline.
“Now that I’ve hung the show, I feel like I have more freedom to play, and it doesn’t matter if they turn out,” she added.
In addition to displaying her artwork, McClintic volunteered as an art docent in the Los Altos School District for a couple of years.
McClintic has always created art, but she did not initially pursue it as a career. She worked as an architect, but when her kids started school, she began taking formal art classes through the Pacific Art League and the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society.
“A lot of principles (between architecture and art) are similar – balance, proportion, perspective unity, variety and even pattern and color,” she said.
McClintic uses her photography as references for her artwork – many of her photos were taken in San Francisco.
Generally, she said she enjoys painting what appeals to her and the beauty around her.
“Creative people are always going to find an outlet,” McClintic noted. “There are so many different forms of art, and I’m into painting now.”
McClintic said she enjoys merging different artistic images, ideas and materials to create her pieces. Watercolors are transparent, so merging and fading certain elements creates interesting layers. She used this idea in a downtown Los Altos street scene, merging the old and new buildings.
“In my early work, I strived to be really realistic and tight, and now I’m looser,” she said. “That’s just my nature. I get tired of painting one way, and I want to keep growing as an artist. Every year I paint, I grow a little bit more, so I’m going to continue and see where it goes.”
For more information on McClintic and to view her artwork, visit carolinesteiermcclintic.com.
