We recently connected with Kim Karnes and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kim, thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I believe being successful as an artist one has to be very organized with their time, dividing it between, creating and unfortunately marketing. I have just started making art as my professional business at age 58. Right now I am creating 2 very different series of paintings. The first is my figurative oil paintings, these utilize my figure drawing abilities and merge them with my experience in Plein air landscapes. These are usually set in a creative landscape with a narrative and story. The second which was a newly discovered interest is in abstract acrylic work. I started working in this style after receiving a commission to paint a series for an interior design client in San Francisco. I like the idea of two different avenues because it does not limit me in creating and I will be able to reach out to a broader variety of art enthusiasts. Hopefully, both styles have you taking a closer look and provoking thoughts from the viewer. Marketing is a challenge for lots of artists but must be done. Some artists might not be so strong at marketing skills, or even like it, and would rather do the creating part only, or at least I would. Today’s climate has artists able to reach so many more people but this also takes time to stay connected to social media. Deciding where to focus your time and what will help you have a presence to reach more people feels like a guessing game, in the beginning, website, Instagram, networking, marketing calls, and following-up. This all takes time and if you can try to, get some help. I would and have. Set your goals and stick with them, each day is just a building block. Put in your best effort and even if you have a setback, and you will just keep going. Track your hours so you can look back and see what you have accomplished.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

I was born an only child in Evanston Il. I was raised by a driven single mother who worked a lot, so I had a good amount of time to occupy and to adapt to new experiences that were filled with gymnastics, friends, and summer camps which included crafts, creating, pottery, and exploring the outdoors. I was always drawn to art but did not recognize that it could become a career. I received a bachelor’s in interior design from Harrington College of Design in Chicago and a minor in art history. Design, fabrics, and interiors are still an interest to me and my artwork. I also was a docent at the San Francisco MOMA and giving tours, meeting, listening to, and seeing current artists and their works have also been an influence. I started my design career in San Francisco after marrying and then having four children, which did put a slow down to working while starting back up my interest in art. I studied drawing and painting independently for a few years, and then got serious and started studying at the College of San Mateo. The school had the most amazing art programs and teachers. There I studied work in portraiture, figure drawing, and Plein air oil painting. This is where I caught the drive/bug and where I met other amazing and great artists, some of whom have become lifelong friends.

Reaching the art buyer or collector in a gallery is a traditional way of reaching customers and collectors. In the work I want to show to galleries, I am exposing and exploring my skills while being open and allowing myself the freedom to let the creativity flow through me. I combine the traditional renaissance figure in a created landscape which draws on my Plein air painting experience, adding a bit of a surrealistic vibe too. I am starting to go bigger in my painting size which I like and is adding more impact and heroism. My current painting is 24″ X 30″ and my next will be larger. In this series, I am exploring what is near to me, my home, myself, motherhood, freedom, and connection to ourselves, each other, and the planet.
The other avenue I am exploring is abstract acrylic. I have just completed 2 large art commissions for a home in Hillsborough CA. One was to compose a related pair of 24″ X 42″ abstract works in acrylic. These are my largest pieces to date. This has opened up other doors, abstracts, which have inspired a new series of art and an opportunity to work with interior designers.
Adaptability is really the key here for me and always has been in my life. I guess you could say it is my motto. I will work to see where th

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes, Technology!!! I have not had much experience in it and boy it has slowed me down. It is something I must admit, I will never master but stay positive and try to get better. Instagram alone is a part-time job. Websites, media presence, and how to stay relevant. Managing time on both art and the business side. This is going to be slower in the beginning stages for me. Perhaps I will hire a student intern to manage my social media :). Not a bad idea.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I have had many lives and careers, art has been a common thread through them all. I have started 3 businesses, interior design, a home accessory and art store, and being an artist. Kim Karnes Interior Design, which I ran for 18 years in the San Francisco Bay Area while being a single mother of 4, sometimes very difficult, sometimes amazing children. This alone shows resilience!  I also managed, designed, and financed homes, remodel flips and am proud to say I made some good money at that too. I opened a great store, When Modern Was, in San Francisco at a bad time in 2008, the year in which the real estate market crashed. I owned the store with my then business partner, Dona Taylor, she still owns the store today and it is doing great!!!. The store sold home furnishings, art, and jewelry curated from markets and fairs. This was not a home run at the time. I had to leave the business, cut my losses, and give up my interest due to the 2008 real estate crash but I did not give up. I consolidated and refocused on what I knew, Interior design. Now through changes and transitions here I am ready for a new challenge focused on my artwork.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kimkarnes