About Kimball Willson
After two decades and numerous career paths, I made my way back to the easel with a focus on painting animals (especially horses and dogs). Below is a little background about me, my path back to art, and my various passions!
Horses: Growing up outside of Rochester, NY I spent my teenage years showing, training/selling young horses, and caring for horses at the barn. I had the opportunity to ride with some of the nation’s top trainers and compete in the Medal and Maclay finals, as well as shows throughout the northeast and Wellington, FL.
During the early 2000s, I exercised and schooled horses for a couple stables outside of Boston, where I lived for a decade before moving to San Diego, CA. Once on the west coast, entrepreneurship became my focus and I began exercising horses a few days per week at a local show stables.
Horses: Growing up outside of Rochester, NY I spent my teenage years showing, training/selling young horses, and caring for horses at the barn. I had the opportunity to ride with some of the nation’s top trainers and compete in the Medal and Maclay finals, as well as shows throughout the northeast and Wellington, FL.
During the early 2000s, I exercised and schooled horses for a couple stables outside of Boston, where I lived for a decade before moving to San Diego, CA. Once on the west coast, entrepreneurship became my focus and I began exercising horses a few days per week at a local show stables.
From the baby who was put on a horse before she could walk to the horse-obsessed teen, to part-time professional, and finally riding for fun as an adult... you could say horses have always been a part of my life!
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Dogs: I can’t remember a time when my family didn’t have dogs. As a young child, we had medium size dogs, then my parents fell in love with Cavalier King Charles Spaniels… and so did I! Currently, my husband and I have a ruby Cavalier named Piper. She is queen of our house, loves everyone, and is the best snuggler.
Dog rescue has also been something very important and close to my heart. We started fostering rescue puppies in 2019 and have cared for over 100 little pups before their adoption to forever homes. Through Corporate to Canvas I also do fundraiser painting events for rescue organizations.
Dog rescue has also been something very important and close to my heart. We started fostering rescue puppies in 2019 and have cared for over 100 little pups before their adoption to forever homes. Through Corporate to Canvas I also do fundraiser painting events for rescue organizations.
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Art: I remember I was about six when we moved to a new house I found a giant illustration book among the boxes. It had belonged to my Aunt and it was my introduction to the idea of becoming an artist. I enjoyed studio art, experimented with numerous mediums and crafts, and even won some awards for fine art in high school. When not at the stables, I was in the art room. But I thought I had to go to college to study liberal arts and business and get "a real job".
Fast forward almost twenty years and I’m back at the easel. I see how all my professional experiences combined with my creative side allowed me to launch Corporate to Canvas (team building through painting activities) and of course my custom art business.
I guess I'm considered "self taught" because I didn't go to art school, but I have had the chance to take classes from numerous talented artists in the San Diego area as well as through courses online. I'm grateful to be able to create art everyday and run two businesses that make me happy and bring joy to others too!
I guess I'm considered "self taught" because I didn't go to art school, but I have had the chance to take classes from numerous talented artists in the San Diego area as well as through courses online. I'm grateful to be able to create art everyday and run two businesses that make me happy and bring joy to others too!
Fun Facts:
- To this day, "rainbow" is my favorite color... I can’t choose just one
- I’m borderline millennial, drive a manual transmission, and prefer talking to texting
- I enjoy cooking. I’m 100% gluten free, and love dark chocolate
- Fitness is important to me for physical and mental health. In addition to riding, I lift weights 2-3 times per week
- I also love TAKING art classes, learning new skills, and meeting new friends
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2023 Update: In addition to my oil painting and Corporate to Canvas, I decide to launch a new business / membership platform for artists who commit to being transparent about their use of Artificial Intelligence in their creative work. I founded the Society for Artistic Integrity when confronted with the ethical dilemma about using AI in the creative process for a complex custom project I was doing for a corporate team. You may read more about that experience and SAI at ArtisticIntegrity.ai
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