Kim Art

Saturday, January 21, 2012

LSP and baby LSP Mailbox

Somehow LSP has snuck into my fifth grade classroom! This is the mailbox I made so we could write letters back and forth. Every week I write the kids back on origami paper and fold it into a different meal for LSP (and the kids). Now, I wonder how can I make origami beans?

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Tristin the Tumbling Turtle

The idea for this series of paintings and book was inspired by my nephew Tristin. A few years ago we were doing an art project together and he became quickly frustrated. Recognizing his perfectionist nature (like his Aunty) this story was born. Here are a few of the paintings and the storyboard.

Tristin the Tumbling Turtle

18 Paintings

Acrylic on Canvas

1 0f 3 pages of storyboard

See all the paintings/illustrations in my Self Published book available through: Blurb

Friday, October 29, 2010

Felt Stories

Life and death go hand in hand; something must exist in order to cease. I suspect that I am not alone in feeling that these past connections persist for a life time; shaping us while in the flesh, lacing their legacy with ours. Memories are the most valuable inheritance. I celebrate the life of my grandparents and treasured pets, the moments that appear unremarkable often have the greatest impact.

The Kitchen

Stirring cold nose soup and preparing Bapa dogs for lunch, Fluffy smoothly dances around the kitchen. Nothing is as it seems. A can of Campbell’s chicken noodle and a hotdog become top secret recipes that only Fluffy knows the contents of. When a utensil is missing it isn’t lost or misplaced, it is the pirates that live in the garage that hoard it in their hidden treasure chest.

The Museum

Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm outings lived up to imagined expectations; the first visit to a museum at the age of four abruptly unsteadied my understanding of space. Bapa holding Fluffy’s arm and Fluffy grasping my hand as our shoes clicked and echoed through the halls. Waves of vertigo and giddiness overwhelming my senses as portraits gazed and towered over my small frame. No previous experience to compare to or find security in.

Hokasai, The Wave

Russian Icon

William Blake, Ancient of Days

Frame Detail

The Studio

A quiet place for reflection and concentration. All details accounted for. Magnifiers and tools cautiously placed within arms reach. Strips of wood carefully soaked and shaped; wheels on axles make pulleys to raise the sails. Delicate workmanship not for glory but for a sense of accomplishment. Being invited into this sacred space was an act of love and affirmation.

The Pool

Bapa and Fluffy used to go swimming at the community pool. Bapa had to take out his contacts and wear his big black glasses which he called his eyes. His glasses made his eyeballs look gigantic. When he smiled his eyes smiled too. Fluffy always wore a swim cap to protect her downy hair. Her swim cap was colorful and made of stretchy rubber, it even had rubber flowers attached to it. Fluffy was very light and could never dive or sink to the bottom of the pool.

The Aquarium

Red tail catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) swallows pictus catfish (Pimelodus pictus), clown loach (Chromobotia macracanthus) and plecostomus (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps) compete for overflowing resources, oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) and managuense (Parachromis managuensis) my voracious tank busters, fire mouth (Thorichthys meeki) swallowing his brood to protect them from red devil (Amphilophus labiatus) danger. Finned and scaled room-mates entertain, throughout my twenties, with territorial squabbles eventually approaching a tentative equilibrium.

The Dog

Jodi our Golden Retriever was our after school companion. She functioned as a living pillow as brother played Nintendo and her tail was blamed one or two times for knick knack breakage. Often she was the center of our latch key games. One short lived game involved brother and I taking turns jumping over her as she slept in the middle of the yard. As one leaped over, the other would yell out “Jodi!” which resulted in the dog standing up tripping the jumper.

The Bird

Keeters an intelligent bird as far as parakeets go. His favorite place to be was inside my jean jacket pocket. He was a regular sidekick on errands and to trips to the library. He also loved to sit on the dash board as we drove through town, sliding and singing.

Spring

Vernal Venus breeze-
twitching whiskers, blossoms whirl.
Thoughts stretch and sweep far...

Propagate

Bunny-flowers burst!
Legends ripen, multiply-
flourish and advance.

Last Year's Rabbit

Bright new and blameless;
clear eyes, empty head, untouched.
Optimism bliss.

Nightmare

Frightening dream ride.
Unattached saccharine-sweet trance...
artificial sleep.

Equilibrium

Prayers on the wind.
Thoughts of courage and kindness-
reach our heroes' hearts.

Contemplation

Cunning monk restrained?

Logic clamors within-

tangible wisdom.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Charge Ahead

Chasing Hokusai;
soliciting benign seas.
Auspicious rabbit.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

expired

Intensely cherished?
Out-of-date visionary-
clever seasoned sage.

crazy

Mentally strange hare-
Cotton tails hide mallow brains!
Adorable batty nut.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

subterranean

"Den"

Ripe earth dreams snare us,
tinged wild strawberry lips.
Snug damp soil shelter.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Otters

Zombie Otter

"Need brains... or coffee"

" You Otter Breakdance"

"John Travotter"

"Hold It"

"Diva"

"Potty Dance"

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Sixty Years in Sixty Days,
A Whimsical Journey through the Chinese Zodiac

This series of sixty paintings was completed within a two month period using pastels and gouache. I am currently working to translate this work into a series of ceramic ware.

In Chinese astrology the zodiac of twelve animal signs represents twelve different types of personality. The sixty-year cycle consists of two separate cycles interacting with each other.

The first cycle is the Five Elements in order Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.

The second is the cycle of the twelve Zodiac animal signs. They are in order as follows: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep/ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar/pig.