Artist: Kimm Byers

Title: Thinking Within Yourself

Medium: Original Acrylic on Canvas with 1 1/2" Museum Bars

Art Dimensions: 36 H x 36 W x 1.5 D inches


ARTIST BIO:

Artist Statement
"I love to paint for the people. I have an emotional response to color and love creating emotional abstracts."

Upon graduating from high school in 1969, his mother serendipitously gave him some paint and a canvas. Kimm had an immediate emotional reaction to color and painting. The office secretary as so impressed she bought his first painting for $35 his second painting the next day for $75. With minimum wage at $1.40 per hour, he realized that he could make a lot more money per hour painting with passion than flipping burgers. He immediately declared to his parents and the world, "I am a professional artist!" and fully believes that he was put on earth by God to be an artist. There went dad's hope of him becoming a doctor.

He did get an Associate of Arts degree in commercial art. Mojave College in Bullhead, AZ awarded him an honorary PhD in Art which afforded him the opportunity to teach at the college level. Kimm has taught hundreds of artists on and off the campus over the years to young kids up to 90+ years old.

While somewhat shy and out of the limelight, Kimm is an artistic genius who relishes his time on earth to paint with emotion relevant to the time. He was inspired by Dr. Seuss whose expressive style, use of color and whimsical characters impressed him. He started off in Abstracts, which developed into "Emotional Abstracts." The birth of a style unique to Kimm: "Emotionalism." Through the years as he painted, he experienced, what he coined as, "post-paintum" depression: Kimm would paint, hate is work and then tear it up. Then he would wonder why he tore it up.

He has been sought after by businesses such as Ford Motor Company and General Motors, Hollywood A-listers and private collectors around the world. In 1976 Kimm had the largest show with ES Curtis Photo Graviers. He became 1st and 2nd official Rose Festival Artist in 1989 and painted for the Portland Rockies (AAA team for the Pittsburgh Pirates). In 2018 the Sheik of Saudi Arabia purchased 14 pieces. His work exists across the world, including the Kremlin.

Kimm has a passion for helping charities and is the official artist for several non-profits including: Bianca Rae Foundation and the no kill dog shelter, and Jimmy's House in Escondido, CA which is currently raising funds to support veterans experiencing PTSD.

Source: Glenda Collins, Michael's Gallery

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