Paintings with soul

When enjoying abstract art, you might wonder what the artist was thinking at the time or admire the technique and use of colors. But what if you could look at a piece of art and know you were peering into the soul of the artist who created it?

If you’re looking at the artwork of Baton Rouge-born visual artist Kimberly Bates, then that’s exactly what you’re doing.

Bates started her art career in junior high taking drawing and ceramics classes. She was encouraged to select architecture as her college major, but that choice was short-lived once she discovered how much she enjoyed her art elective courses. She changed her major to painting, which she admits she had little experience with, and finished with a bachelor’s from LSU. Bates recently wrapped up studying abroad at the Lacoste campus of Savannah College of Art and Design in France to complete her master’s degree.

But, before journeying abroad, she submitted art to Forum 35’s Art Melt in 2012, her third such attempt. She ended up winning the Forum 35 Select award, which means her painting, “Serenity,” will run on the commemorative poster for 2013’s event.

“It was a lot to take in,” Bates says. “It was great to see this show bring together artists and let them get a chance to connect and network. It is such a wonderful feeling to get awarded for my artwork and having an organization like Art Melt want to use it in their marketing pieces.”

The California curator and Art Melt judge Franklin Sirmans even asked Bates to go over her piece with him. It was only later she realized he was the national juror for the event.

But, while she says she was able to discuss art comfortably with Sirmans, it is indeed a major feat to put to words what her paintbrush brings to life. ?

“One of the scariest aspects of being an artist is that you take your entire soul and pour it out onto a painting,” Bates says. “The fear is that if an audience does not love it, you feel that they do not love a part of you. A lot of my work is grown out of bursts of emotions that I feel—the colors and the sizes of my art are direct reflections of my moods and emotions.”

While Bates says she favors the pouring technique of oil paint and powder pigment with linseed oil, she also recognizes and appreciates the gumbo of Baton Rouge art, saying the city has great resources for artists from the Shaw Center to Baton Rouge Gallery to Southern University’s Museum of Art.

“The current state of art is like a big pot of gumbo with every single ingredient you can think to put in it with no clear depiction of how you want it to taste,” Bates says. “But, with this wide variety of styles and aesthetic temperaments of art, it will stand its own ground, because it’s a part of our heritage and who we are.”

For more information on Kimberly Bates, visit kimberlybatesgallery.shutterfly.com