Lost in happiness, beauty, color, joy. That is how I feel when I dive into the art of Kim Rodeffer Funk, our Artist of the Month.  One look at these swaths of color, these fireflies of light, these feelings of deep artistic beauty, and you, too, will fall in love. From the concrete to the abstract, from the sublime to the ethereal, Kim’s art draws you in, makes you think, reveals itself in new layers with each look. I am proud to share the extraordinary art and words of Kim Rodeffer Funk…

Weathering the Storm 36" x 24" acrylic.

Horizon 2. 24x36 deep Acrylic, gallery wrapped canvas.

"Sweet and Juicy" 20x40 cm acrylic on canvas.

Please tell us about your art…

First of all, Jessie, thank you so much for asking me to do this interview. It is very much an honor. Now, to answer your question…

I paint and draw in abstract forms. It is really how I see the world and I am fascinated by the very smallest of details and very long views. When a recognizable object appears in my work, it usually has a very graphic quality about it.

In 2012, German artist Andrea Hupke de Palacio and I formed Atelier 325. We share studios and show our work together. This has greatly enriched my work the last 2 years.

Horizon 6. 30x40 deep, gallery wrapped canvas Acrylic.

Party Time.

Breaking Glass. When beauty crumbles and cuts you and when life seems as though it cannot exist in this struggle for much longer it is broken glass which reminds you to see it differently. You understand the beauty of the shards and how important it was for the glass to renew itself in a different form. This is a reflection of you. Acrylic 20 x 16 inches cradled hardboard.

How/when did you start becoming an artist?

I have always been a creative person, however when I was young I was encouraged in the “practical” side of creativity. I grew up in rural America and there was not any room or any understanding of fine visual arts. My university experience took me to the field of interior design and I practiced that for many years, but I always felt it limited me. I felt confined in that field. About 15 years ago, I was using gouache and pastels to prepare some perspectives for an interior design client. I really lost myself in the details of those technical drawings and tried to expand that idea of working with exploding details of the familiar. When I felt that “zone”, I knew I had found my calling.

I have always loved the work of the American Abstract Expressionists and the European Lyrical Painters. Their work really touched me deeply and I always wanted to use abstracts in my design work. So it felt logical to move into a direction that really spoke to me.

Mariposa. 40x30 inches acrylic on canvas.

Mussel Shells (watercolor on paper).

Glacier Colors. This painting is reflective of a special place on earth which touches everyone’s soul. You know where it is for you. It brings you to that place deep inside you where life is ancient, time belongs only to you and you are quite sure we live forever here. There is so much clarity and so much reflection in this special place you cannot stop going there in your mind. Acrylic 40 x 30 inches staple-less, gallery wrapped 1.5 inch deep cotton canvas.

What do you draw inspiration from?

I have to be able to “feel” something inside myself and when that happens, I know I need to explore a subject as fully as I possibly can. Travel is a huge inspiration for me. I enjoy really spending time in a place and imagining myself as a local finding something wonderful and exciting for the first time. Exploring different cultures and natural areas greatly influence my work. I am a process junky, so I love playing with new materials or old materials in a different way. Other artists are a huge inspiration to me as well as really living a true artist’s life. There is not a work/life division – it is all one!

I enjoy the inspiration of water, as I feel it is a very healing element. On my last visit to France, the River Marne called to me. When we lived in England, the Channel Coast was a huge inspiration (as was the sheer fact of living on an island). A recent visit to Hawaii found me enamored with the stunning clear water of the Pacific. Montana rivers, lakes, and waterfalls always call to me when I am there. I visit with these bodies of water, and then at some later time, their influence likes to show up in paintings.

Nature, in general, pulls at me. Currently, I am exploring aspects of the tree. Snow has shown up from time to time. Even the effect of nature on things is very interesting – such as rust.

"Avocado Berry" 20x40 cm acrylic on canvas.

Mountain Horizon. 14x11 inches acrylic on board.

Dancing with Pearls. Sharing the truth of all pain ultimately brings so much joy and beauty to life. Acrylic 20 x16 inches 300lb (640gsm) Fabriano Watercolor Paper.

Where are your favorite places to create art?

I am a studio artist, so my work is done there. I have a studio in my home and a small studio in Montana, which are both a part of the Atelier 325 Studios. Andrea and I also share another Atelier 325 Studio in Paris, France. I have moved often over the years, due to my husband’s career, so I have to be ready to move the home studio when the time comes.

I carry out a great deal of field work when I travel, however the actual art comes from the studio experience.

5 panels. (12x5 inches each) acrylic on canvas.

Concentration. 40x30 inches acrylic on canvas.

What do you enjoy creating most?

Personally, painting and drawing abstractly is my greatest form of inward expression. My interest in philosophy comes out as I view a variety of cultural experiences through this lens. I am intrigued by the vernacular culture of a given location and then fitting those observations into the workings of the larger culture. It is safe to say when I paint, I prefer the unique view.

Painting how I feel is important as it is my unique perspective, and I hope by painting feeling (as opposed to painting with feeling) it encourages someone else to explore their own perspective on something. In many ways I paint silence, because it can take on so many forms and can mean so many different things to every individual. Because I put so much of myself into each painting and because it truly comes from a lifetime of experience, I hope the viewer can find something in the work that speaks to them, too.

Typically, I enjoy creating alone and most often work this way; however sharing the studio spaces with Andrea has given me a different way to explore working together. We, obviously, work well as a team and have recently developed a technique of painting together on one painting. We call these pieces, “The Third Artist AHdP/KRF”, so that is a great deal of fun and exploring technique and process with another artist is a huge learning experience.

Full of Vibrant Life. Acrylic on Canvas 73x92cm. The Third Artist AHdP/KRF

Ocean Artists. Acrylic on Cancas 178x169.5cm. The Third Artist AHdP/KRF

How can readers find and purchase your art?

Obviously, when my work is in an exhibition, it is for sale. You can also find examples of my work on my website and on the Atelier 325 website. I additionally post my paintings on Pinterest.  If anything appeals to anyone or any idea of something appeals to anyone, I prefer to have conversations about my art and I can be emailed at this address artist[at]kimrodefferfunk[dot]com  I really like working with clients and want them to feel a part of the art, so the conversations become important.

"Pop the Cork" 45x55 cm acrylic on canvas.

Summer Fireflies. The evening glow of fireflies is sometimes more and sometimes it is less, but it is always golden. 24x28 inches Acrylic on Canvas.

"Taste the Love" 20x40 cm acrylic on canvas.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Yes, I am often asked why I paint and I think it is an important part of this discussion. Clearly, I love painting and it is a huge part of my life. People do not get into this unless they love it, and fine art must be done with a lot of passion or it only becomes a technical task. However, beyond this, I want my work to remind people to slow down their lives, take a breath, and allow my paintings to wash over them for a moment and hopefully the viewer can be reminded life is good and it is worth pausing in their day to remind themselves of what is important to them personally on any particular day.

"Two of a Kind" 45x55 cm acrylic on canvas.

Dancing. I completely lost myself in the creation of this piece and found it became a true dance in learning to reflect the possiblities of life. Acrylic 20 x 16 inches 300lb (640gsm) Arches Watercolor Paper.