Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Costa-Stearns.
Hi Kimberly, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised on the East Coast, in Maryland. I have loved art my entire life and started drawing and painting around age 5. Growing up on the East coast, I was lucky to spend a lot of time in museums and art galleries. I took as many art classes as possible throughout high school and created a professional art portfolio, which I used to apply to college. I studied art throughout college and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts at James Madison University in Virginia. After graduating in 1998 from JMU with a BFA in Painting and Drawing, I decided to go back to school to get my teaching license. After receiving my teaching license in 2000, I moved across the country to Bend, Oregon with a new sense of adventure, ready to start my career as an Art Teacher. I was excited to pass down my knowledge and skills to the youth,
Shortly after moving to Bend, I began teaching art. I was hired as a part-time Art teacher at Summit High School. Then, on March 22, 2001, during Spring Break, I was in a life-changing car accident. My right, dominant arm was severely crushed and severed. I was rushed to OHSU in Portland. I nearly lost my arm. After several reconstructive surgeries, the doctors were able to save it. I spent the next 2 months in the ICU, recovering. I had lost the use of my dominant arm. As an artist in my mid-twenties this was extremely challenging. I spent the next year regaining strength, doing physical therapy several days a week, and learning to do everything with my left arm, while dealing with the nerve pain.
Despite the mental and physical challenges, I had to move forward. I began to paint left-handed and after about a year I went back to teaching. I began teaching art classes part-time at the Art Station and through Bend Parks and Recreation. I was the Art Teacher at Jefferson County Middle School in Madras for a couple of years, then I transferred to Cascade Middle School, in Bend. I taught Art in Central Oregon for almost ten years. My art students helped to inspire me every day.
I met my husband, Andy, in Bend in 2005 and we got married in 2009. Less than a year later, our first child, Isabella, was born. I decided to stay home with my daughter, instead of going right back to teaching. My son, Luca was born three years later. During my time as a stay at home mom, I was painting every chance that I got and doing lots of art with my kids. I started showing my work regularly around town, then in 2021, I started my art business called Kimberly Costa-Stearns Artwork. I regularly show my art in coffee shops, clothing stores, and restaurants in downtown Bend and around Central Oregon. I often set up on First Friday selling my artwork and I do some small makers events.
Now, I am a full time professional artist, which was always a dream of mine. I get to spend most of my days painting in my home studio. When I am not painting, I am working on the business of being an artist. This is more than I imagined in terms of marketing, arranging shows, designing and creating new products, but I love what I do everyday.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of my biggest struggles in my art career has been my car accident when I was 25. Since then, I lost most use of my right arm and I now solely paint with my left arm. From this moment on, my life changed forever. It has taught me to never give up when times are tough and has helped to shape me into the person that I am today. Initially, art was an expressive outlet. As I have grown and faced life events, art has become so much more.
Another challenge that I’ve faced while building my art business has been getting repeatedly turned down by stores, and by art competitions. It’s not always easy, but these “no’s” have allowed me to show persistence and motivates me to keep on trying. When I finally do get a “yes”, it is very satisfying, but aspects of my art journey have not always been easy.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an acrylic and mixed-media landscape painter, working primarily out of my home studio in Northwest Bend, Oregon. I also enjoy plein-air painting while I’m camping, drawing inspiration from my surroundings. My paintings are brightly colored, textured landscape paintings on canvas and on snowboards. I often start a painting by taking a photo on a hike or by finding landscape images that capture my attention.
I begin by doing a light pencil sketch on the canvas. From there, I build texture using crumpled white tissue paper and watered down glue, shaping each tree, flower, and mountain by hand and adhering them to the surface. Once the textured areas are dry, I paint over them with acrylics, using a combination of brushes and palette knives to bring depth, color, and movement to the scene.
I also paint original acrylic and mixed media landscape paintings on snowboards. This works especially well when I work from a panoramic photo. I use my crumpled tissue paper and glue method to add texture to the snowboard. Last year I began creating vinyl prints on snowboards. I currently sell the prints on my website, as well as in Bend at “Outside In”, “Powder House”, and at “Latitude 44 Sports”.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
My art is continuously inspired by the diverse landscapes of Central Oregon, many of which are a short distance from each other. I love that within an hour, I can drive from Smith Rock, with the amazing colors and the dramatic rock formations, to the lush Meadow Camp Day Use Area on the Deschutes River, which is alive with color, the sound of the river and wildlife. I feel so grateful everyday to be a professional artist and to live in such a beautiful place, one that constantly inspires my creativity. I also enjoys traveling, gardening, and spending time outdoors with my husband, two kids, and our dog, Nala.
Pricing:
- Prints on snowboards- $325
- Original snowboards $995
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kimberlycostastearnsart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlycostastearnsartwork
- Facebook: https;//www.facebook.com/kimberlycostastearnsart
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KimberlyCostaStearns
