About
Kim Testone is a contemporary acrylic still life and trompe l'oeil painter whose work focuses on happy and colorful dessert foods that evoke a sense of nostalgia, with a tinge of whimsy and thoughtful undertones. Her unique painting style combines her formal education with many years of self-taught technique.
From scooping her own ice cream to baking and decorating elaborate cookie, gingerbread and frosting models, Kim tries to ensure a human element in all of her work, including her reference images. Kim often shares painting process videos online showcasing her complicated layer-building process, consisting of many thin translucent glazes of acrylic paint, so viewers can witness the evolution of the illusion of dimension created in her pieces. The paintings often feature drips of ice cream, swirly swoops of frosting, and other evidence of the humanity behind each subject, along with a childlike joy and optimism that is primarily intended to make viewers smile.
Kim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art with a concentration in Drawing from the University of Central Florida and a Master’s degree in Arts Administration from Savannah College of Art and Design. She is a former art magazine editor, as well as a former theme park caricature and silhouette artist. In her 12-year career as a professional artist, she has had five gallery solo exhibitions, won multiple juried art show awards, and was selected as one of a handful of artists for the 2018 public art project, "The Doors of Make Room," in Washington D.C. Her original paintings are in hundreds of private collections. She is represented by Hidell Brooks Gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina.
