About
Kimberly Adams is a contemporary oil painter known for creating richly textured landscapes primarily with her fingertips. Inspired by the changing light, pathways, and natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, she reimagines the landscape through expressive color, inviting viewers to pause and experience a sense of optimism, reflection, and possibility.
Growing up in New Mexico and now living on Bainbridge Island, Washington, Kimberly has always felt deeply connected to the emotional language of nature. Her work reflects the influence of Impressionism while embracing a distinctly contemporary approach. Using her fingers and unconventional tools rather than traditional brushes, she applies richly pigmented oils in tactile layers, allowing colors to blend across the canvas and in the viewer’s eye.
Pathways frequently appear in Kimberly’s paintings as symbols of life’s unexpected turns and the possibility of something meaningful waiting beyond what we can see. Each painting offers an invitation to slow down, follow the light, and find beauty within change.
After undergoing brain surgery, Kimberly turned to painting as an essential part of rebuilding her hand-eye coordination, concentration, and sense of self. That experience deepened the themes already present in her work—resilience, transformation, and the quiet belief that even an uncertain path can lead somewhere beautiful.
Kimberly has exhibited her work throughout the Pacific Northwest and in galleries in Montana and Wyoming. She is represented by Cole Gallery in Edmonds and Parklane Gallery in Kirkland, Washington. In addition to her studio practice, she is a published author and instructor who teaches artists to explore color, composition, and the expressive freedom of painting beyond the brush.
Artist Process
Kimberly’s process begins while walking through the landscapes of Bainbridge Island and the Pacific Northwest. Rather than recreating a scene exactly as it appears, she reimagines its color, light, and atmosphere to express how the moment felt.
Working primarily with her fingertips, Kimberly applies richly pigmented oil paint directly to the canvas in layers of color and texture. Her hands allow her to intuitively blend, shape, and move the paint, while unconventional tools—including paint tubes and squeegees—help create unexpected marks and movement.
As the painting develops, pathways, changing light, and seasonal color often emerge. These elements become more than features of the landscape: they suggest life’s unexpected turns and the possibility of something hopeful waiting beyond what can be seen.
PUBLICATIONS
Beginning Composition by Kimberly Adams, Portfolio Series, Walter Foster Publishing, November 5, 2019
Beginning Color Mixing by Kimberly Adams, Portfolio Series, Walter Foster Publishing, April 3, 2018
Oil & Acrylic Workshop by Kimberly Adams, Bridget Skanski-Such, Yiqi Li; Walter Foster Publishing, July 2017
Tideland Magazine, Finger Painting Is Not Just For Kids, Linda Kramer Jenning, Fall 2026, pg.36 Link
Architectural Digest, A Path Forward, Dani, Condé Nast, July/August 2026, pg. 55
House and Garden, Dresses for Christmas, The Art Edit, Vogue House, Hanover Square, London WIS IJU, October 2019, pg. 147
House and Garden, Inside the Houses of Artists + Curators + Collectors; The Art Edit,
Vogue House, Hanover Square, London WIS IJU, November 2019, pg. 178
House and Garden, The Big Design and Decoration Issue, The Art Edit, Vogue House, Hanover Square, London WIS IJU, October 2019, pg. 312
425 Magazine, Faces of The Eastside, Natalie Deford, Vol. 11, No. 4, April 2017, pg. 67 Link
Art Seen, Red-Wood Reserve, February 2017, pg. 19
PRESS
EDUCATION
1997-1998
Eastern New Mexico University
Received Bachelor of Fine Arts with emphasis on fine art and business administration.
1995
University of Nevada Las Vegas
1991-1994
San Juan College, New Mexico
Studied Fine Art and Entertainment Law
Studied human figure drawing and fine art with the esteemed Artist and Professor William 'Bill' Hatch in his inaugural class.
"This experience not only honed my skills with oils but also deepened my appreciation for the intricacies of the human form and the world of fine art." - Kimberly Adams
Artist CV
KIMBERLY ADAMS (b. 1973 New Mexico, USA)
Since 2014, Kimberly has been showcasing and selling artwork in various galleries. This journey has allowed her to connect with art enthusiasts and share her passion for creativity. Each exhibition has been an opportunity for her to grow and continue to share her work with a broader audience.