Kim Painter

My practice of art making brings me joy, and I share my work with the hope it brings you joy as well.

I spent my early years wandering through some pretty amazing landscapes: simple summer gardens, pecan groves, and running creeks in the Piedmont region of the Carolinas. As a child, I adored exploring — and, funny enough, I find myself returning to that same spirit of discovery today.

Over the years, I’ve moved from South Carolina’s low country, with its winding creeks and salt marshes, back to the familiar, lush rolling hills of the Piedmont. No matter where I am, I’m influenced by the beauty of atmospheric conditions in the landscape. But what excites me most is the exploration itself — each new adventure offers something unexpected to share.

Oil is my primary medium because it allows me to capture light and atmosphere with the greatest depth of tone and range. My approach is often described as Tonalism. Unlike more familiar movements such as Impressionism or Expressionism, Tonalism emphasizes mood, harmony, and spirituality through subtle shifts of color, line, and shape, often without narrative.

I consider myself a lifelong learner and have had the privilege of attending workshops and studying with artists and teachers I gr...