Meet Katie Kimbell: Student & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Kimbell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Ever since I was a kid, I enjoyed writing and art. As I grew up, I sporadically painted and wrote things on a WordPress blog called “One Girl Wonders.” But it never progressed or developed, since I never invested true time in it. Then, out of nowhere, a pandemic hit. Our country shut down. My summer plans to study abroad were canceled. And I knew I had a lot on my mind. I also knew that I wanted process what was on my mind by doing something that made me happy. So, I rekindled my love for words and started painting quotes/lyrics/etc. for my friends and posting the results on Instagram. I was consistent, I painted every week, and I loved it. I would make paintings based off the personalities of those I painted for, so each piece was thoughtful and unique. I also began writing again, but this time, instead of giving up after feeling like I had nothing to say, I turned to my friends who inspired me and asked them to write on my blog. I still loved the name “One Girl Wonders,” but tweaked it to be “KK Wonders.” Instagram really helped me brand myself and express who I was as an artist naturally, since I posted so often. Soon after I began painting for friends and having people write for me, I was able to take commissions. People saw my work and requested I do something similar for themselves, their friends, etc. At this point, KK Wonders naturally became a business. After pursuing both of these creative ventures, my best friend / roommate Isabella Filos created a website for me that combined both art and writing. Ever since, KK Wonders has evolved and grown. It feels like a piece of me, and it’s a huge reason why I am the person I am today.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My mantra as a business is “give yourself permission to wonder.” I think at a young age we try to fit ourselves inside of a box. We feel like we have to live up to certain standards, believe things we’ve been taught our whole lives, only agree with a certain group of people, assume that we could never do what someone else did, etc. I don’t know why we have these boxes, but they seem to be societal expectations that come across as the only identity we can accept for ourselves. Anyway, for so long, I carried a lot of shame about my “box.” I felt like I couldn’t fit inside, because no matter how I rearranged myself, it didn’t feel right. It made me feel like I didn’t belong, because I was not meeting the expectations of that identity. I wasn’t the perfect, cooperative, quiet, Christian girl that I thought I had to be. I was loud, I was weird, I was curious, and those traits are probably the reason why I felt like I was “too much.” But looking back, I think my heart just knew that I didn’t want to limit myself by being tied to a stupid box. I knew there was more to me than that. I finally have begun letting go of the shame that I am “too much,” just because I don’t belong to the identity that was placed on me as a kid (not by anyone in particular). I decided to choose freedom; I decided to give myself permission to wonder. Words are the biggest way I have wondered. Whether it was a Pinterest quote, a Brandi Carlile song, anything Brené Brown says, a book series…words opened up the whole world for me; they made me see things in a new light. I cherish words, I write words, I paint words. And as I create, I give myself freedom to move away from that box, that black and white perspective, and see things in color.

I think this summarizes more than just my art; it summarizes the way I try to see life. However, KK Wonders is the biggest way that I process what I see. I am most proud of the artwork that has my own writing, because it truly feels like a piece of me. For example, I made a canvas that says, “Why do I care so much about the way others perceive me? I’m so watered down that way!” Those words came from a journal entry, and I’m so proud that I had the courage to paint them and sell that canvas to someone else.

With all that to say, even though KK Wonders became a business naturally when people started asking for orders, it hasn’t been easy. It has required a lot of support and thoughtfulness. I have learned a lot about branding myself, and making my Instagram a place where people immediately see who I am. If I didn’t have Bella and my other friends to support me, I would have given up by now! I mean, I have no idea how to make a website! I also think I would’ve given up if the brand did not accurately represent who I am. KK Wonders is so lasting to me, because it is showcasing how I feel and what I think. It’s raw and honest and weird and emotional, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It survives, because I know the vulnerability in my writing and artwork creates lasting connections with people that gives them the freedom to wonder, as well. After all, no one belongs in a box.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ohhhh, definitely Valor- it’s a coffee shop in downtown Alpharetta, which is outside the perimeter but not too far from Atlanta. The service is wonderful, the lavender lattes are incredible, and the vibes are immaculate. I would also go to Inman Perk- that’s a great coffee shop. I would love to go to a concert at the Tabernacle- that is such a fun venue. Maybe after we’d take a little ride on SkyWheel…the view is gorgeous. I also loooove Krog Street Market, because you can walk along the beltline and then grab a bite to eat after.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Isabella Filos! She is one of my college best friends and roommate. Bella inspired me to put honest artwork into the world, not just stuff I thought would be trendy enough or cool enough. She was the first person I painted with during quarantine, and while we were together, I ended up painting a butterfly that still hangs in my room. I think it was my very first KK Wonders post. If I didn’t paint with her that day and realize how much I missed it, I don’t know if KK Wonders would even exist right now. Also, Bella has been with me every step of the way. She takes incredible photos for my Instagram, she made my website (which is so wonderful and so personalized to who I am as an artist and person), and she challenges me to create things I’m proud of. She makes me feel like my art is incredible, not because a million people have to like it, but because it is honest expression. THANK YOU, BELLA ❤️❤️❤️

Website: katiekimbell.com/kkwonders

Instagram: @kk.wonders

Linkedin: Katie Kimbell

Image Credits
Isabella Filos