Finger Painting Artist

​

Walking into a room and seeing a Kimberly Adams painting on the wall is bound to stop you in your tracks. It’s not just that the colors ignite the space or that the images dance with light and energy, it’s that they transport you to another world. Nearly every one of Kimberly’s impressionistic canvases offers you a pathway to a better place where joy, happiness, and positive energy await you. “In a culture full of stress and chaos,” says the artist, “painting is my way of encouraging people to stop, pause, and enjoy the moment.”

​

THE BEGINNING OF AN ARTFUL JOURNEY:

As a young girl, she instinctively turned to art as a means of exploration, sketching and adding color to the world around her. Growing up in the serene landscapes of a small town in New Mexico, her artistic journey took a significant turn when my father encouraged her to learn the art of oil painting. Under the guidance of a local instructor, Jennifer Campbell, she acquired the essential skills and grasped the fundamentals of working with oils.

 

Kimberly's passion for art followed her to college, where she further honed her craft under the tutelage of artist William Hatch. It was Hatch who became her profound influence, introducing her to the diverse and boundless world of creativity. During one of his human figure drawing classes, a revelation struck as she discovered the incredible ease of blending pastels with her fingers, a technique that felt remarkably intuitive. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern New Mexico University, with a dual focus on fine art and business administration.   

THE DETOUR:

Like so many artists, Kimberly loved art from a young age but initially chose a “safer” professional path, in her case, a successful career in retail that spanned more than 25 years. Eventually the lure of painting proved irresistible. “I found myself feeling unfulfilled,” she reflects, “and every year it became harder and harder to create the energy I needed to stay passionate about my career. I realized something had to change. I could no longer force myself to work in a job that didn’t reflect who I was as a person.” Kimberly embarked on a journey of discovery, studying the work of other artists past and present— exploring and mastering her own techniques in her studio. Adds the artist, “The moment I made the decision to pursue art, I knew it was right. I now have an incredible amount of energy that helps me overcome obstacles, and I feel happier, healthier and closer to my family than ever.”

THE LOVE FOR FINGER PAINTING:

In 2013, Kimberly's artistic journey took another transformative turn when she crossed paths with Iris Scott, a renowned artist whose innovative approach breathed new life into her work. Attending one of Iris' workshops in Washington, Kimberly embraced a unique fusion of her pastel finger painting technique with the vibrant medium of oils. Today, her art is a testament to this fusion, where she primarily relies on the dexterity of her fingers to bring her vivid oil paintings to life. Refusing to confine her creativity within traditional boundaries and venturing on a more curious path to discover. She embraces a spirit of experimentation, she explores using unconventional tools in addition to her fingers – from paint tubes to shower squeegees – "whatever I find in my surroundings becomes a vehicle to translate my vision onto canvas. My art is not just a visual expression; it is a tactile experience, a fusion of childhood curiosity, classical training, and contemporary innovation, all converging into a vibrant tapestry of colors and emotions."

 

HER CAREER AS AN ARTIST:

When it came time to launch her professional art career, she relied on her self-confidence and business acumen to chart her own course, and the results have been remarkable. In just a few short years, through bricks-and-mortar and online galleries, her work has been collected into private collections around the world. Yet she claims that her greatest achievements lie in the direction she’s given other artists through her teaching and the new art instructional books. “I feel I grow as an artist with each class, as I learn from the students as much as I share my knowledge,” she notes. Kimberly also thrives on encouraging other aspiring artists to pursue their dreams, which is why she enjoys teaching and mentoring others.

​

ABOUT HER ART:

Following in the footsteps of the Impressionists of old, Kimberly applies dozens of daubs of paint to every canvas, allowing the pure, vibrant pigments to visually blend on the surface and in the viewer’s eye.  It's bright, colorful and full of texture. To watch Kimberly paint is to understand where the joy and energy come from. Her hands literally dance across the canvas, sometimes blending the colors to create dimension and depth and sometimes allowing the paint to remain untouched, adding rich texture to the image’s surface.  Nature serves as her muse, and her ability to add a pathway into most of her work is a reminder that life is never a straight and narrow path, it full of twists and turns. Her art is about embracing these twists, and shining light on the resilience to find positivity even in life's most challenging moments. 

​

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES:

After a decade of thriving as a professional artist, my journey took an unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Following the surgery aimed at reducing the tumor's size, I faced numerous complications that challenged my very essence. In the wake of this adversity, art became my steadfast companion, guiding me through the arduous process of rewiring my brain, relearning hand-eye coordination, and rebuilding my focus.

 

Amidst the daunting hurdles, the creative process emerged as a beacon of hope and healing. With each stroke of the brush and every blend of colors, I found solace and strength. Art became more than a passion; it became my sanctuary, allowing me to rediscover my identity and purpose. Through the intricate dance between my fingers and the canvas, I not only regained my artistic prowess but also unearthed a newfound resilience within me.

 

My art is a testament to the transformative power of creativity, a testament to the unwavering spirit that art instilled in me during my darkest hours. It reflects not only my artistic evolution but also my personal triumph over adversity. Every painting tells a story – a story of resilience, courage, and the boundless capacity of the human spirit to emerge stronger from life's most formidable challenges.

​

Kimberly is currently represented by:

Cole Gallery  in Edmonds, Washington and Parklane Gallery in Kirkland, Washington. 

 

Canvas reproductions of her works are also available on iCanvas.com. For more information about the artist, her classes, and available works, please contact Kimberly directly at artbykimberlyadams@gmail.com