Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Kort.
Hi Kimberly, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Painting is also a cathartic release for me. I have had debilitating migraines that sometimes incapacitate me for days and I have experienced them for over twenty years. Painting helps calm the pain and spurs more creativity by organizing the chaos that envelopes my brain. I began five years ago mixing up and playing with cups of paint. I play with cups of paint, mix, and pour it out onto the canvas. Sometimes, I have a specific vision for an art piece that is inspired by nature. Other times I put together a color palette that I want to evoke certain emotions and feelings and then I let the paint flow.
I am a self-taught acrylic fluid artist. I have taken a few art classes online and in-person but most of my artwork is driven by what I see out in nature. I want certain feelings and emotions to be felt and seen when viewing my artwork.
One day a friend asked me to make her a painting for her home. After I created that painting, other people said they liked my work and encouraged me to make more and sell them. I was contacted by a pediatric dentist’s office to create a series of paintings for the new office. I began to get more commission work and then I began to enter into art shows and juried competitions. I have shown my work in a Cape Cod gallery, and in a Michigan gallery.
I am the current in-house resident artist at the CANVAS hotel in Dallas. My paintings hang in the lobby, restaurant, and rooftop lounge. I have artwork being displayed and available for purchase at Filter(ED) coffee shop and gallery in McKinney, Texas. I am proud to add that I have sold internationally too. I have joined the board of the Texas Jewish Arts Association, the Visual Arts Guild of Frisco, the Plano Arts Association, and the Richardson Civic Art Society.
I am chairing my first two art exhibitions. The first one is the Contemporary Texas Jewish Arts Exhibition at Dallas Love Field airport. There are twenty artists currently displaying artwork in the glass cases in the corridor before the baggage claim area. All the work is available for purchase. I am happy to report that some artworks have been already been purchased. The second exhibition is the Texas Jewish Arts Association (TJAA) Exhibition #1 inside the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas. The TJAA will have a new exhibit inside the Jewish Federation every three months. I wanted to provide opportunities for artists’ work to be seen and purchased.
I enjoying giving back to the community. In 2020, I was able to gather artists to donate artwork to help adorn the walls of the new Family Place South Dallas counseling center. I have donated artwork to many different charity auctions too.
My art is about feelings, emotions, and helping others. The paintings help give people a place to give their eyes a place to rest and their brain a moment to wander and explore.
I am enjoying connecting with many artists from around the state of Texas. I plan to keep showing my work and selling my work online through my website. I learn something new each day when I connect with other artists, gallery owners, teachers, and customers at the shows.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has been a little bumpy. I didn’t know my way around the art community. I am a very inquisitive person so I have asked many questions and learned to listen very carefully to what is being said and what is not said. I began with very little knowledge of what to expect and how to get my artwork seen by the public. I didn’t know how to market my work. In the beginning, I created a website and thought to myself ” Great now people can find me online and purchase my work.” It doesn’t happen overnight and just like any job you have to work at sharing spreading the message, creating buzz about the work, and learning how to share it online on many different platforms. I have been rejected by many galleries and learned so much from the rejection. I knew that my work still needed to develop and become more refined. I am still learning about perfecting composition, color palettes, and how to create bodies of work in a series. I feel if I go to an event, an association meeting or a show and learn one new thing then it was all worth all of the hard work.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My background is in hospitality management. I began working in food service and transitioned into corporate events and meeting planning. I have always loved to create. I am a Kansas City native but moved to Atlanta, Georgia for a few years and began to work in corporate events and meeting planning. I was able to be creative with many events for the office management company to assist with the tenant retention activities and programs.
Once I moved to Dallas, I worked for various companies either in hotels or corporations but still creating memorable events. One thing I like to do the most is help, connect and assist people to reach their potential. I enjoy watching people light up when an event is successful and all the expectations and plans were exactly what they wanted and expected. I find that I am very good at helping others. I work hard at gathering what is going on in the city and surrounding areas. I like to plan fun things and share all of the events and programs with friends and my community. It makes me so happy to see others enjoying and having new experiences.
What matters most to you? Why?
My family and community are most important to me. These people are always there for me and I am always there for them. They support, show up, and hold me accountable. No matter what is happening in my life or the world, my family and community are always there for me. These people are so very special to me and my life.
Pricing:
- Paintings $35.00 and up
- Entertainment pieces $45 and up
- Tables $110.00 and up
Contact Info:
- Email: kimk@kkartcreations.com
- Website: www.kkartcreations.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kkartcreations/
Image Credits:
Frankie Garcia
