We had the good fortune of connecting with Kim Walker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kim, what do you attribute your success to?
For me the most important factor behind my success is a combination of passion and support. My passion for creating artwork takes me into my studio almost every day of my life. It is an integral part of what brings peace and joy and fulfillment into my life. In regards to success of my brand when measured in terms of my extensive resume over the last twenty plus years, first and foremost I am forever grateful to my husband and my family. In addition, I never take for granted my art education and gallery representation and acceptance and invitations into art exhibitions. I am also forever heartened by all who have encouraged my art endeavors and to those who have purchased my artworks.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My story as well as my artwork are both very unique. My son Robby began attending community college in 1992 at age 9. While transporting him to and from college, I decided to attend classes myself. I became the first person in my family to receive a degree – a B.F.A. in Painting from Arizona State University – and had the unique experience of taking some classes with my son. Robby completed a PhD in Computer Science. With great pride and joy I fondly look back to this experience as a magical part of my journey. Since then, I developed a unique style of painting that incorporates pressed flowers and natural elements. During my degree program I absorbed the many offerings of my instructors and I am very grateful for that experience. I always knew, however, that I wanted to find my own voice in my art. Beginning in December of 1999, in an attempt to assuage my grief over the untimely death of my mother, I took almost daily walks. “One day while resting on a mountain trail a breeze wrapped around me and it felt like a hug. I looked up and all around and it became crystal clear that nature reflects not just beauty but also hope and inspiration and healing as well as many metaphoric lessons that can touch all of our lives in profound and limitless ways. We are all warmed by the same sun and held by the same gravity. I knew I wanted to share these feelings as well as the actual botanicals with the world. I stopped many times on my walk home that day and picked up random botanic elements not knowing how, but still knowing these elements would become part of my art.” Today I continue to evolve my processes of including actual botanicals in my art, each day making new discoveries in my studio. I also write an original poem for each painting to further express my reverent gratitude for the gifts of nature.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In these challenging and surreal days of all of our lives it is just incredible to be able to go outside, to look up, to breathe, and to refresh our spirits. In the past and for the future whenever we have company here in Arizona I have two main goals. One is to spend time with our local family. Always a treat! The other is to spend as much time as possible in the outdoors. Arizona has some of the most breathtaking scenery, hiking trails, lakes, mountains, camping, etc. that I have ever had the opportunity to experience and it brings me great joy to share that with others. Whether we hop on a trail right here in our neighborhood or take a drive to the Grand Canyon or Sedona just to name a couple places, it’s all just wonderful and very inspiring on so many levels. We also have a home right near the pacific coast in Baja and there too we spend the majority of our time with guests exploring the offerings of nature!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There is a shoutout list a mile long running through my mind but I am going to focus on my husband Rob who has been with me every step of the way. When I went back to college in midlife he was a huge help with the kids and my daily domestic responsibilities. He worked hard to support my college financial obligations. He builds my birch panel supports and forms that I use as the base of my artworks. He also builds beautiful custom frames for some of my compositions. He helps me transport and deliver art to my galleries. He also packs and ships my artworks to locations in the U.S. and all over the world with the uptmost care. He accompanies me at art shows and on my trips to my art openings. He also goes along on my gallery quest adventures. Several years back we contracted a build of an art studio on our property of our Baja casa and Rob helped me set it all up and it’s fantastic! Currently we are working together on applying resin to some of my artworks which has been a challenge and also a fun adventure. We are brainstorming and experimenting with ways to make fine art furniture and new sculptural pieces. His support has been phenomenal and I can’t find words to adequately express my gratitude for all that he does to make it possible for me to follow my dreams.

Website: kimwalkerart.com
Instagram: instagram.com/kimwalkerart
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-walker-99834416/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/k1_kim
Facebook: facebook.com/kimwalkerart