Their love of the water and marine life lured Kim and her late husband Ian to the Florida Keys in the mid 1990s.  Initially, they came annually for a combination of business and pleasure and later decided to become permanent residents.  Kim now lives on Cudjoe Key.

Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, Kim was the daughter of a marine conservationist. As a child, she spent her summers exploring the barrier islands on the Gulf of Mexico and later moved to the coast of South America.  Kim is a self-taught artist, and experiences from her childhood greatly influenced her artistic expression.  Starting at an early age she received several awards for her work.  Using oil and acrylic paint, Kim created numerous commissioned pieces for businesses, individuals and charities.  Ian, Kim’s late husband, introduced her to watercolor and the art of Gyotaku resulting in a combination of their names, KIMIAN.

Gyotaku is (Japanese for fish rubbing).  Gyotaku originated in Japan, where fishermen initially used the technique to document the size of their catch.  Kim uses a conservation printing technique where all edible fish are eaten and bait becomes bait again. Using black ink or acrylic paint which is brushed on to an actual fish, Kim then prints the fish onto handmade paper or canvas, and employs her own technique in coloring the fish rubbing.  Kim is a member of the Nature Printing Society and this past year traveled to South East Asia and studied with master printer Mineo Yamamota in Japan and taught a class on Gyotaku in Singapore. Kim completes her work with a custom made frame.   

Recently Kim received first place in mixed media in a juried show and the Peoples Choice Award at Artists in Paradise Gallery in Big Pine Key.  Some of her more unique rubbings have come from travel abroad including the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Red Seas. Her art graces the walls of homes and businesses nationally and internationally. When not residing in the Florida Keys Kim spends time at her second home in the Spanish Virgin Islands creating more art.  In the Florida Keys, her work may be viewed at Artists in Paradise Gallery and Out of the Blue Gallery on Big Pine Key, The Key West Art Center in Key West,  Little Palm Island , Little Torch and  Artamorada Gallery, Islamorada. A recent piece commissioned by Art in Public Places may be viewed at the new Key West Airport terminal.

Kim Workman
Email: kimians@gmail.com/ www.Kimiansart.com