Faithful (2021) Painting by Kim Stangle Huerta

Kim Stangle Huerta began painting in 2013 after her youngest son, Jonathan, began his 2nd semester in college.  She had a sudden realization… “wait, I can have my own life now.”   She was working to decorate a new home and thought how hard could it be to create her own paintings for the walls.  So she went to the local Michael’s craft store and signed up to take some painting classes.  She discovered a knack for painting that she never knew she had.  She heard some of the other students talk about an art teacher, Jerry Yarnell, frequently.  She looked him up online and saw that his art school was just a couple hours away, so she began to spend two days every few months at the Yarnell School of Fine Art in Skiatook, Oklahoma.  Under Jerry’s tutelage, she began to grow as an artist very quickly.  She moved to Berlin, Maryland in 2015 and now studies with Jerry once a year.  She is hopeful that art will be her 2nd career that will continue throughout her life.   She is also hopeful that it will allow her to earn some mad money to continue her adventures in retirement.

Her 1st career keeps the left side of her brain occupied analyzing and problem solving.  Kim’s favorite lesson about art comes from Winston Churchill where he describes why he took up art late in life during WWII.   He said that when your brain is working a problem and you try to get away from the problem and rest, your brain seizes the problem even more fervently.  The only way to rest your mind is to use a different part of it.    This is one of her favorite life lessons.  Doing art is recovery and rest for a tired, worried and anxious mind.  

Kim loves people, experiences and travel.  She is passionate about our military and veterans.  Their service and sacrifice for us can never be repaid, but she wants to honor them every chance she gets.  As her son, Jonathan, is now serving in the US Army, art provides a refuge for my aching momma heart and the worry that goes with his deployments; including his upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.  She sees my son in every soldier, and they are all sons and daughters to her.  Each brush stroke is filled with love and hope that each one comes home.  

• Nationality: UNITED STATES
• Date of birth : unknown date
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary American Artists