Kimberley Eddy
I started turning to painting, more and more, as a form of therapy, of returning to centre.
In the studio
How did you start making art?
My mother is an artist. When I was a child, I would watch as these amazing images would appear on the canvas, as if by magic…out of the air through her brush. She always encouraged my creativity and was never afraid of me making a mess. The first time I painted with her paints on a real canvas I was 12 years old. I was hooked.
Art has followed me around all my life. I was an interior decorator for over a decade and when my clients asked for murals or custom art, and I would happily oblige.
Why do you make art?
Making art grounds me, calms me, and centres me, yet at the same time frees me. A few years ago, my husband was diagnosed with cancer. It was a shocker. An eye-opener. I started turning to painting, more and more, as a form of therapy, of returning to centre. It made me feel good to create. It made me feel good to paint. So, I dedicated a small space in my home as a painting studio and stood at my easel more regularly. Fast forward to today; my husband is cancer-free and I am a full time artist.
Purified beach sand
What/Who inspires you?
There are so many artists living and past whom I admire, whose work I am drawn to, whose lives intrigue me. But, for me, admiration and inspiration are separate. I am inspired to paint by the ocean, the water, the sand, and coastal environments. I cannot go near the water without wanting to paint it. I have only ever lived surrounded by the ocean, here in Nova Scotia, and for a few years, in Bermuda. The salt water is just part of who I am.
Two from the Sand Series
How do you work?
Although I do live paint events, from time to time, and have competed a number of live art competitions, I am most often working away the hours in my home studio. When I am painting in my studio, I work best quietly and alone. Sometimes I listen to quiet calm music, but most often in silence. Hours will pass and it feels like minutes.
What do you hope to put out into the world through your art?
Art is such an individual experience. Each person interprets what they see in their own unique way. Each of us have our own perspective through which we see our world. I hope that when a viewer sees my art, they feel the energy that I have put out there on the canvas. Often that mood is calm and tranquil, but sometimes it is more alive with raw emotion. One of the biggest compliments for me, is having someone tell me that a painting reminds them of a happy memory. Having studied and worked with colour theory extensively, I am acutely aware of how colour affects me, and hopefully the viewer, as well.
What has your experience with ArtBomb been like?
I was excited to work with ArtBomb from the very beginning. It can be hard for artists to connect with the collectors who may be interested in their work. I think it’s wonderful that ArtBomb sends my artwork directly into the inboxes of people across the country who are interested in seeing the art that is out there. Each piece of art has been hand selected by Vanessa Lentz, the East Coast Curator for ArtBomb. She has always been flexible and communicative throughout the entire process; from selection of each piece of art, all the way through to the delivery directly to the collector.
In process
Ocean Flow 15
How do you feel when someone purchases a piece of your work?
As an artist, I bare my heart and soul on my canvas. Although painting re-centres me and gives me a sense of freedom, I am quite literally putting what is inside of me out there in the world to be judged. From that perspective, for an introvert who likes to keep to herself, it can be a challenge. It still amazes me when someone selects my art for their walls. Every. Single. Time. I feel so thankful that out of all the choice out there, they chose my art. It warms my heart. Each and every time a collector chooses my art, it gives me a renewed desire to hurry back to my easel and sink my brush into some watery blues.
