Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Conrad.
Kimberly, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I have been creating all of my life; writing stories, composing music, designing clothing, and have been an entrepreneur my entire adult life. I operated an art and music school Conrad School of Art for children for seventeen years, while designing and marketing my own clothing line, and painting part time. I closed my clothing business in 2004 to devote 100% of my time to the business of art. At that time, I felt there were not enough online opportunities and created my first platform for artists. It has morphed over the years, with the help of other talented women and is now a wonderful organization called www.whereartlives.gallery, with over 80 online sites for artists and a beautiful quarterly magazine, Where ART Lives. I am very proud of our organization.
I have watched many sites come and go through the years, and we are still here, doing what we love! As an artist, it is my greatest vehicle for marketing my artwork online. As an art coach, it feels wonderful to be able to provide this great opportunity to other artists. I work with artists from all over the world, including many from the great state of Texas. The greatest part of the art business, is of course the painting! I would rather be painting than doing anything else, most days!
I treasure every moment of painting time. In 2013 I opened Kimberly Conrad Contemporary Art Gallery in Denver, where I exhibit my own work, and took an additional space there for a second studio. It is quite a luxury for an artist to have multiple places to create and I give thanks daily for such a blessing!
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I consider myself to be both Expressionist and Action Painter! Though I work some in oils and mixed media, my primary focus is pouring acrylic. I began pouring in 2005. I was creating primarily nonrepresentational abstracts at the time-and I had this piece in blues, brown, gold and white on the table drying, when one of my sons walked by and said “hey mommy, that looks kind of like the beach”. I looked at it and said “wow it does look like the beach!!” That was my transition piece; the beginning of pouring with purpose. I began pouring Seascapes and Landscapes very consistently, and within a year, I was also pouring Aspens and Florals.
Because I’m an expressionist – painting primarily from emotion and intuition, this method of painting thrills me at a soul level. I use no sketches or brushes, other than to tone my canvas before pouring. Each painting is a journey, dictated by primarily by my current thoughts and emotions, be they happy, sad, peaceful or frenzied. It is a mysterious relationship, and is thrilling when the painting finally reveals itself, and our private journey becomes a story to share.
Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
As an internet art coach and rep, I find the biggest struggle artists have is in marketing their work. We all LOVE to paint, but we don’t love so much the business side. Many do not know how to market and others do but are not willing to put in the time required to generate the sales they would like. The truth is, consistency really is the key, as much in marketing as in painting. You have to show up daily and put in your time. I would say 70-80 % of my sales each year are online, even though I have a brick and mortar gallery. If an artist wants to be successful in internet sales, he needs to show up every day on the internet, just like any other job!
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
If you come through Colorado, my work can be viewed at my own Gallery, Kimberly Conrad Contemporary Art Gallery in Denver, or at Earthwood Collections in Estes Park. I also work consistently with interior designers, for both private and corporate projects, and am always looking for ways to co-create with other artists and designers.
My website shows all of my available work, as well as info and images for licensing, and the protocol for commissioning paintings.
www.kimberlyconradcontemporaryart.com
Contact Info:
- Address: Kimberly Conrad Contemporary Art Gallery
220 East 7th Ave Denver, Co 80203 - Website: www.kimberlyconradcontemporaryart.com
- Phone: 303-881-2258
- Email: kkconrad2@aol.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlyconradcontemporaryart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimberlyconradcontemporaryart/
Image Credit:
Sam Williams
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