Kim VanDerHoek
United States
After graduating in 1993 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in illustration from the California College of the Arts in Oakland, California, Kim worked as a graphic designer for 11 years. She left the design field to pursue a career as a full-time painter.
She learned to paint by painting en Plein Air because it combined her love of being outside and creating art. “I enjoy the challenges Plein Air painting poses. Dealing with the weather, changing light and other hurdles of outdoor painting has forced me to learn to make decisions quickly, to paint with commitment and above all, to have a plan for each painting.” Kim feels that through Plein Air painting she has gained a better understanding of the effects of light and atmosphere. She aims to translate those effects into her studio artwork. Currently, she is working on a series documenting iconic bridges across the United States.
“It is my hope that when you view my painting from across the room the large shapes make a strong visual statement and you can easily see what the subject is, then, upon closer inspection, you find yourself lost in the paint texture. I strive to elevate the scene I am painting in order to showcase the everyday beauty surrounding us.”
Kim is represented by Principle Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia, Chemers Gallery in Tustin, California, California and South Street Gallery in Easton, Maryland.
* This statement has been provided directly by the artist in association to their 14th International ARC Salon entries. This content has not been edited for typos or grammatical errors and has not been vetted for accuracy.
