Born in Southern California and raised in Big Bear City, Kim spent many hours as a child climbing trees, sledding down snow-covered hills, horseback riding and hiking through the woods. Surrounded by the wild beauty of the forest Kim developed an early appreciation for the outdoors, which she continues to explore today through painting.
After graduating with a fine arts degree in illustration from the California College of the Arts in Oakland California Kim worked as a graphic designer for 11 years. She left the design field to pursue a career as a full-time painter. Today she paints in the studio as well as en plein air (painting outdoors).
She began painting en plein air because it combined her love of being outside and creating art. "I enjoy the challenges plein air painting poses. Dealing with the weather, changing light and other hurdles of outdoor painting has forced me to learn to make decisions quickly, to paint with commitment and above all, to have a plan for each painting." Kim feels that her plein air work has, in turn, strengthened her studio paintings.
"It is my hope that when you view my painting from across the room you can easily see what the subject is, then, upon closer inspection, you find yourself lost in the brushwork."
Kim is a signature member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA), a member of the American Impressionist Society (AIS), a member of the Southern California Plein Air Painters Association (SOCALPAPA), and an Artists member of the California Art Club (CAC).
Thursday, June 16, 2011 Issue of Informed Collector - "Plein air work with a lyrical quality and energetic brush work, drawing us in for a long, lingering, introspective visit."
Michael Gormley, RayMarArt Judge for March 2011 - "An honest take on the landscape we might pass by every day. It finds a beauty in the forms of industry and the human presence. Like a visual interpretation of Willa Cather's abstracted description of the plow in My Antonia, the painting show's how man's presence and nature's power push and counterbalance."
Awards
2010 Paint American Top 100
2011 Juried into the Salon International at Greenhouse Gallery
2011 Finalist for the American Artists Magazine Cover Competition
2011 Raymar Art Finalist, June
2011 Finalist in the Artist's Magazine Landscape/Interior Competition
2011 6" Squared Award at the Randy Higbee Gallery
2012 3rd Place Professional Artist's Award at the Scenes of Tustin Show at Chemers Gallery
2012 3rd Place Award at the LPAPA 8th Annual Best of Plein Air Show
2012 3rd Place Award at the SOCALPAPA Back Bay Show
2012 2nd Place Award at the Holiday Treasures Show - Debra Huse Gallery
2013 3rd Place Award at the LPAPA Less is More Show - Randy Higbee Gallery
2013 Randy Higbee Gallery Award for an Artist's Body of Work at the Laguna Plein Air Invitational
2013 3rd Place Daily Paintworks Monthly Painting Competition
2013 6" Squared Award at the Randy Higbee Gallery
2013 Judge's Choice Daily Paintworks Monthly Painting Competition
2014 Raymar Art Finalist, December