Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Berriochoa.
Kimberly, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I paint worlds that don’t exist, host strangers like old friends, and have spent years shaping stories behind the scenes of corporate giants. I’m Kimberly Berriochoa, and if I had to sum myself up, I’d say I’m an artist with a wild imagination, an entrepreneur with dirt under my nails, and a storyteller who’s lived more than one life in a single lifetime.
The artist
I’ve been painting since I was a little girl, mostly teaching myself through curiosity, color, and a deep love of the unconventional. It wasn’t until much later, during a profoundly difficult chapter of my life, that painting shifted from pastime to lifeline. In creating surreal dreamscapes filled with strange, emotional scenes, I found healing. Through color and unconventional art, I found a way to heal, and what I created began to resonate with others as well. I now exhibit in galleries around Austin and other cities.
The host
When I’m not painting, I’m welcoming guests to Falcon’s Nest, my short-term rental tucked into the Texas Hill Country. What began as a side project slowly transformed into a thriving business. It is now a retreat space where people come to breathe deeply, unplug, and sometimes rediscover their creativity. I also host intimate group gatherings that blend art, nature, yoga, and self-reflection into something restorative and beautiful.
The communicator
For over twenty years, I worked in corporate communications, helping global brands and executives convey a more human side. I led international teams, developed narratives, and wrote stories designed to inspire, connect, and motivate people to take action.
I live at the intersection of imagination and intention. It may not be a straight path, but it is honest. And in that in-between space, where things are both messy and meaningful, that is where the real magic happens, at least my magic.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Has it been a smooth road? Not even close. But I’ve learned that the bumpiest parts were often the ones I built myself, usually out of self-doubt and second-guessing.
For years, I hesitated to call myself an artist. I painted almost daily, poured my heart into it, and still felt like I hadn’t earned the title. It wasn’t until I saw my work hanging in a gallery and watched someone buy it that something clicked. Suddenly, the inner critic had a little less to say. It’s strange how the brain needs external proof to believe what the heart already knows.
In corporate life, the road was just as winding. I’ve had a strong career in communications, but like many others, I had to push through a lot of things I didn’t enjoy to grow. There were long hours, steep learning curves, and far too many meetings about meetings. Climbing that ladder often felt like hiking in heels. What made it worth it were the people. I’ve always loved team collaboration and the magic that happens when passionate, smart people come together. That has always been the part I enjoyed the most.
Then there’s Falcon’s Nest. Hosting and running retreats is hard work, no question about it. There is laundry, logistics, and the occasional unexpected wildlife encounter. But it doesn’t feel like a struggle. It is the kind of work that makes you feel tired in the best possible way. When a guest tells me they feel lighter or more at peace after staying, that feeling is better than any five-star review.
So no, the road hasn’t been smooth. But every detour has added something to the story, and I wouldn’t trade it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I approach everything in my life as an artist. Whether I’m holding a paintbrush, setting up a guest room, or planning a retreat, I pour myself into it fully. I want every part of what I create to feel intentional, meaningful, and a little magical.
When I paint, I lean into surrealism. My work is filled with unusual pairings and dreamlike scenes that invite the viewer to pause and wonder. A banana might carry elephants. A cocktail glass might house penguins. I like to explore what lies just beyond the obvious, because I believe that’s where the real story begins. My goal is to remind people that there’s more to life than what we see at first glance. The possibilities are endless, and we get to choose how deeply we want to see.
That same mindset shows up at Falcon’s Nest. If I’m hosting an art retreat, I want every guest to leave with a deeper sense of self-worth, creative freedom, and a little more joy in their pocket. If I’m welcoming a couple for a quiet weekend away, I want them to feel taken care of in all the small but important ways. Fresh flowers, soft sheets, a sky full of stars. It matters to me that their experience is more than a stay. I want it to be a memory.
What I’m most proud of is that I’ve learned how to blend all these pieces of who I am. Artist, host, communicator. Nothing is compartmentalized anymore. I get to show up fully in everything I do, and I think that authenticity is what sets my work apart. It’s all stitched together with intention and care.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
This question made me chuckle because I’ve never really thought of myself as a risk-taker. I don’t jump out of planes or invest in crypto. But when I look back at the choices I’ve made, I realize there has been quite a bit of risk along the way.
Take Falcon’s Nest, for example. I didn’t know the first thing about running a short-term rental when I started. I just knew I had a vision of a peaceful space in the Hill Country where people could reconnect with themselves and maybe even rediscover their creativity. I poured my heart into it. I designed every corner with care, hosted like my life depended on it, and hoped it would mean something to the people who walked through the door. And it did. I’ve seen it in their faces, in their handwritten notes, in the way they exhale when they arrive. Somehow, it worked. But if you had asked me at the beginning whether I thought it would turn into a thriving business, I probably would have said, “No clue, but I’m doing it anyway.”
That’s how I view risk. If love and passion are at the center of what you’re doing, the risk is worth it. But if those two ingredients are missing, it turns into a gamble, and that is where it gets painful.
To me, the best kind of risk is the one that feels a little scary but also deeply right. It is the one where your heart speaks louder than your fear. And when you combine that with hard work, research, and the willingness to learn as you go, you can end up building something truly meaningful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.falconsnesttexas.com/. and https://www.kimberlyberriochoa.com/
- Instagram: @eyeandme. @falconsnesttexas
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-berriochoa/
