Today we’d like to introduce you to Kris Gillam.
Kris, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always been artistic in a way, with decorating, floral arrangements and painting everything that would sit still from walls, furniture, vases, lamps, etc. I love re-purposing things. I was in Art class through high school but never had any formal training.
I truly discovered my appreciation for art when my sister Patricia Coffey and I went to Europe in 2005. We spent a week in London and Paris visiting museums. I remember being at the Louvre like it was yesterday. I walked in and the “Winged Victory” stopped me in my tracts and I immediately fell in love. Then throughout the day, I was standing in front of Michelangelo’s “The Dying Slave” and just started crying. I looked over at my sister and said, “I don’t know why I’m crying” her response was “It’s art, baby! It affects us all differently”. I was so overwhelmed by everything I saw on that trip, I came back changed forever with a new appreciation.
I did my first real painting in 2006 at the age of 39. I was remodeling and re-decorating my home and I wanted some original artwork. I couldn’t afford my taste, so I decided I would just paint my own piece. I went and bought the biggest canvas I could get in my car, some oil paints, a palette and brushes.
I’d chosen a painting from a Veranda magazine to copy. I very quickly realized that painting came very natural to me, why had I not done this before now? I had never really doubted that I could do it, but I was a little surprised at how it came out and just how much I really loved painting. I know now that we have all been created with God-given talents that make us unique and I was discovering mine. My pastor Ray Harmon with Converge Church @ weareconverge.com, always says “Our purpose isn’t for us to decide, but it’s for us to discover”. How true is that! It just took me a little longer than most to get there.
I did a few more paintings for my house and then family and friends started wanting paintings. I have given a lot of paintings away over the years and the commissioned ones are becoming greater.
I have done many paintings over the past years, sold to individuals as well as companies and have donated a few to non-profits. I have been extremely blessed over this past year with a new website Krisgillam.com thanks to Ward Starrett at wscreative.format.com (
Has it been a smooth road?
I wouldn’t say it’s been a struggle for me yet, but I am just now trying to take my Art business to the next level. It’s mostly been word of mouth through family and friends, but now that I have my website in place and have created an actual studio to work in I am hopeful for more consistent business.
I would say that my obstacles are that each painting is something I have never done before, but that is where my faith comes in. Every commission I receive is prayed over before I even start and there is a whole lot of prayer throughout the process. Some paintings come easier than others. Some can take a day while others take a couple of months to get right.
My process is, I start at the top of the canvas and paint my way down. I will paint for a couple of hours and take photographs then step away from it to study the photograph. If I am stuck on a particular thing I will pull up pictures or YouTube videos to learn a technique. Always stretching my skills and learning new things.
I’m a firm believer that the desires of our heart and the talents within each of us are God given. He created each one of us to succeed. That doesn’t mean it won’t be hard work, it just means we need to be aware of where our help comes from.
Please tell us more about your art.
I am mainly known more for my landscapes. I’m most proud of my skies. I love beautiful skies. I love painting clouds whether it be a bight day or a moody storm rolling in. Like I said, I always start from the top of the canvas. The sky has to be right first. I love skies because every single sky and cloud are unique. More recently, I have been painting some small animals.
Who have you been inspired by?
First would be my Grandma Gillam. She was an artist and the only other painter in my family. While I never painted with her, I remember how she would watch Bob Ross with her easel and TV tray full of paints. She also painted on fabric. She would paint flowers on sheets, tea towels, table clothes, etc. She was extremely gifted. When she passed away in Feb 2002, I went through her basement studio and gathered all her paintbrushes, knives and any other paint supplies. It wasn’t until four years later that I would start painting.
I would say, David Downs at daviddowns.com has truly inspired me. He is a friend and a local Plano, TX photographer of landscapes. Every photo he takes is something I would love to paint someday. David is a good friend and has been telling me for a few years to get a website if I want to move to the next level, so I finally did.
Ward Starrett at wscreative.format.com has been a blessing sent to me. We met a couple of years ago while I was painting in my garage and then just reconnected in 2019. He has become a true friend and as luck would have it, he designs logos and websites. I couldn’t be more pleased with my website, logo and business cards that Ward designed. He is also an artist and came from a mother that is a painter. He gives me constructive criticism on my paintings. Sometimes it’s hard to hear, but I so appreciate his honesty.
Contact Info:
- Website: krisgillam.com
- Phone: 214-243-5705
- Email: Kgillam67@gmail.com
- Instagram: Kgillamartist
Image Credit:
Kris Gillam
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