Three years ago, Kim Chase took a painting brush out for a paint night with her mom for the first time in 15 years. A six-month bonding activity turned into a side hustle for a couple of years, which ultimately turned into a life changing event, when her reignited passion for art led her on a path to get international recognition.
Chase, after years of putting her aviation career in the forefront, turned a hobby into a career which led to her gaining international recognition when her collection of works was selected for the London Art Gallery. Her unique style of capturing the essence of nature in every subject in her artwork garnered a lot of appreciation for her and her artwork globally.
The take off
After the regular paint nights with her mom reignited a passion for art, Chase worked for around two years to make art a career. She set up a website and began applying to galleries and competitions to gain some support for her artistic career. The breakthrough came when the Laura I. gallery picked her up to represent her on bigger platforms. “Back in June, they chose me to represent me and my artwork in different platforms, competitions and exhibitions. They help creating a mass impact and open us to international avenues where we can get some recognition. We are working towards having our own very first exhibition sometime around January,” Chase says.
With the support of Laura I. Gallery, a local Thunder Bay artist, Chase has managed to display her artwork in many prestigious galleries worldwide. For her, getting the first place in plein-air salon competition was a huge deal as it is a widely recognized competition for artists worldwide.
The doors just opened up for her from there. Chase was able to get her artwork some worldwide recognition when some of her works were showcased in Europe in different exhibitions. “As a self-taught artist, with only two and a half years of practice, I’ve been lucky to have this chance of getting an international recognition. To be recognized as an artist is a huge privilege, and it is surreal that it is happening,” she says.
Giving voice to nature
For every artist, there is a unique style through which they convey their emotions. For Chase, it is about the simple things in life: starting with nature. “Nature itself is mesmerizing. It creates a calm in my soul, which I wish to express on a canvas. All my painting, even the portraits are pieces where I draw parallels between nature and the subject. For example, in one of my paintings, to show the symbolic strength in a woman, I painted a transparent lioness on her shoulder,” she says.
“I wish to bring realism and contemporary realism into my paintings. My paintings are detail oriented. Unlike impressionist paintings, which are loose and scratchy, but when you stand back you see the bigger picture, realism pieces have finer details that send a message across. I want my paintings to evoke an emotion of content and calmness in people, and giving a voice to everyone/ everything,” she muses about her painting style.
Like any artist, hoping to spread positivity in the world, Chase hopes to reach an international market with her painting and make art a career and as a platform to express her advocacy, be it animal and women rights, or domestic abuse.
To see more of her artwork, check out her page: CHASE Art Works
