We were lucky to catch up with Kim Eshelman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kim, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

I had a small loft in 619 Western, an iconic old building downtown Seattle where hundreds of artists worked, played, and hosted wonderful events amongst ourselves and publicly. First Thursday Art Walk would bring hundreds of visitors through the creaky old halls along with music, laughter, and a joyous appreciation of the art.

I’ll never forget the first painting I sold to a gentleman who passed through my studio. It was a 9″x12″ blue abstract pastel that he bought for his boyfriend’s birthday. He loved it and was was so excited to take it home. It’s been many years but I often think of that little painting, which I don’t have a photo of, and where it might be living. It sparked a realization in me that I could do what I love and prosper from it at the same time.

It’s been many years, and the huge community of artists at 619 Western who worked in the building from 1980-2011 was forced to leave due to disrepair of the building. But I’ll never forget the time I spent there and will always be grateful for the experience.

Kim, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Ever since I was a kid I’ve had a love for art. I remember winning a second grade art contest and seeing my little crayon drawing hanging at the local grocery store and feeling pure joy that it was recognized and appreciated. Although I never pursued a formal training in the arts (I didn’t think it was an option for a career!), I never quit drawing or painting, and immersed myself in art through reading about other artists, looking at their work, and always practicing.

My journey as an artist has gone through many iterations. When I first began painting in my late teens I worked abstractly on very large canvases and continued to work this way for years. I was drawn to the pure color and energy that I had seen other artists work such magic with. As I evolved as an artist and my skills developed, I began to incorporate figures into my abstract pieces. I eventually created a large series of jazz musicians using mixed media and acrylic which was widely exhibited, from the local City Hall to a winery and other venues. Most of those pieces sold and gave me confidence to continue my painting journey.

Throughout the years as I have grown more introspective, so has my body of work. Moving into a rural area a few years ago influenced my choice of subject matter, and I’ve gravitated toward mainly painting the landscape, although I still love the occasional still life or wildlife painting. I love experimenting with materials and I don’t have a set process. I get bored easily so finding new ways of creating is what keeps me engaged.

That said, one constant in my work is that I’ve gravitated to working solely with dry pastel. It has completely captivated me! I love the immediacy and tactile experience of the medium. It allows me to paint and bring a piece to a finish quickly which is my preferred method of working. There’s no tedious drying time or big clean up of wet materials. And the brilliance of the pastel medium is something I haven’t found anywhere else.

My work is in public and private collections worldwide, including Scotland, England, France, Spain, and the US. In 2021 I was honored to be one of nine artists out of over 1200 applicants chosen as a featured artist in the 2021 Anniversary Edition of LandEscape Contemporary Art Review magazine.

In 2022 I won the Prix du Conseil Départemental de la Dordogne for my collection of works displayed at the Pastel Museum in Saint-Aulaye, France, hosted by Pastel en Périgord, This was a huge honor for me because so many artists I greatly admire were exhibiting alongside me. Next year I’ll be exhibiting again, this time attending in person!

This winter I’ve been invited to display a collection of my work in an exhibition tour of several major cities in Taiwan which I’m very excited about. I’m so honored to be displaying my work alongside contemporary masters such as Olga Abramov and Vincente Romero Redondo.

Living in the beautiful woods of Washington state near the base of Mount Saint Helens with my husband provides constant inspiration for my work. This summer I’ve been captivated by the sunrise over our field and have painted many versions of it. I can’t wait to see what captures my imagination next.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I think it’s important to view social media as the core means of marketing your art. Don’t post personal photos to your Instagram artist page. If you do on occasion, make sure it’s something about painting. Think of it as your personal gallery where potential collectors can come see your wall of art. They don’t care about what you had for dinner the night before or your recent vacation.

I love seeing other artist’s work on social media. It’s important to stay engaged with artists on social media because we help each other grow by commenting and appreciating each other’s work. There are enough collectors out there for all of us!

Try to post every few days and don’t be afraid to use a lot of hashtags – great creative with them! Most importantly, post quality work.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My work is not about the landscape as much as it is about connection. Painting itself is a very intimate process for me, but the final painting will become a conduit for communication between myself and the viewer.

I believe the subjective lens though which we view the world is a common thread between us. We have different stories but they’re all human stories intertwined with love, loss, pain, and joy. As with everyone, my experiences have shaped my reality both figuratively and visually. Painting has become the intimate bridge between my inner life and the outside world. What began as an intense desire to express myself has evolved into an aspiration to evoke emotions and a feeling of connection in others, not only with the human experience, but with the transcendent beauty of nature that is available to us all.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kimeshelman.com
• Instagram: kim_eshelman
• Facebook: Kim Eshelman Fine Art
• Youtube: A Painterly Approach to Pastel with Kim Eshelman @kimeshelman
• Other: https://lumagallerie.com/collections/kim-eshelman

Image Credits
Liza Mize Photography (photo of me)