For local painter, Kim Paxton, art has always been the most natural way for her to express herself, in fact, she admits that she does not remember a time when she did not draw or paint, “I knew I wanted to do something with art when I was in high school but we moved around quite a bit. I ended up in a school that didn’t have art so I didn’t actually study art.”

Kim, who lives and runs her studio in Weltevreden Park did a year of teaching where she majored in art for children before she moved on to architectural technician, “That’s where I found I could still use my creativity,” she added. When she became a mother, she left the corporate world after a decade and started a business doing paint techniques on walls and furniture as well as teaching.

“I always had an interest in oil paintings and I think it was in 2011 that I started with an art teacher, who showed me how to create with oil paint. That’s where I met most of the people that come to this studio.” She confessed that although she loves her oil paintings she enjoys an array of different mediums including soft chalk pastels. “I haven’t studied art but I have done numerous courses where I learned how to do chalk and water colour paintings. Anything new!” she smiled.

Her artistic ability can be attributed to the paternal side of her family with her father being quite the creative himself. Her brother is a contemporary artist based in Cape Town. “My daughters are both creative,” she said. “One has just finished studying at University and the other one is in grade 11. The younger one is very good at painting, I think she would like to do portraiture. The older one, sketches really well but she is better at clay work. She makes very fine pieces of clay.” Kim said the artistic environment has created a lot of healing for her, especially the artists she has met and connected with. Equally she strives to create an environment in her studio that is safe for artists to experiment and not feel judged. Her studio boasts 17 students on her records. “We are a very relaxed environment and it’s ‘pay as you go’,” she explains. “Some are travelling and some are moving away. They don’t all come at the same time.” “Art helps you get emotions that you are not even aware of out onto paper. That is the side of it that I probably enjoy most. I love still life but I am busy practicing a new style and trying to make them more modern. I love the sea and I enjoy water and anything to do with reflections and sunsets. Although I am not good at drawing people, I will paint something that will have people in it. Not recognizable faces but something from the back or a silhouette.” She admits though, that she is a bit of a Jack of All trades and will try something at least once.