Since she was a child, Kim Taggart has been drawn to God’s awesome creations filled with brilliant views and colors. She credits her kindergarten teacher for alerting her parents that she had an elevated skill level when it came to drawing.
“Meeting with her encouraged them to keep me supplied with what I needed,” she explains. “While I went to Olathe High School, I had a very good art teacher, and I also took private art lessons at the then Mid-America Nazarene College. The professor taught me after school, and I learned oil, pastel and charcoal techniques.”
She went on to attend K State and earned a bachelor’s degree in fine art. As many artistic college graduates do, she decided to go into graphic design instead of formal art, which made more money at the time. She honed her skills working for various local advertising agencies.
As she entered into adulthood, and life events have happened, her love of formal art has been reawakened, and she draws large graphite landscapes, which is unique to her genre. Her work can be seen in multiple locations in the Kansas City area.
“I work with Eva, who owns Eva Reynolds Fine Art Gallery. She features and sells many of my landscape prints. Eva represents world-renowned artists, and I feel lucky to be with her. Laura of McCroskey Interiors Award-Winning Interior Design Firm works through Eva to get my artwork for her clientele and has six of my large pieces on her website. She usually sells three or four at a time in her homes she designs,” she continues. “Jack Stack Barbecue in Martin City has six of my 30-inch pieces, and the newly remodeled Plaza Jack Stack has five of my really large pieces. My artwork looks like charcoal but is actually graphite.”
She feels that living in the country drew her to the lovely outdoors where she was lucky enough to witness Kansas sunsets and sunrises, stormy clouds and the Flint Hills. She is inspired by the world around her.
“My two daughters would always complain that I had my head out of the window,” she smiles. “I observe and capture composition. I also enjoy abstract art and will soon be working on more very large black and white pieces.”
As each art piece takes 80 to 100 hours, it takes time to create items for art shows.
Her 100-year-old house is a source of joy for her, with little curios with lead glass, a front porch swing and colonnade, which she notes is super inspiring and healing. She recently dedicated a room as an art studio in her home.
She is honored to be part of the group, American Women Artists, a non-profit membership organization comprised of women artists, patrons and gallery owners throughout the United States and Canada.
“They have a campaign called 25 in 25, and in the next 25 years, they are offering members the opportunity to jury into an annual museum exhibition. They are striving to get women in museum showings. Women’s art makes up only one percent in museums. I submit art and it is a juried competition,” she expresses. “You have to be in three shows to gain signature status, which I have obtained.”
Watch for more from this strong woman as she continues to thrive and create.
Visit kimtaggartsart.com to see more of her work.