GREENFIELD – Have art, will travel. Michelle Kimberlin will go just about anywhere to share her passion for painting.
From bars to wineries, private homes to libraries, Kimberlin’s Hancock County Creations Art Studio has been in just about every corner of the county since it started about six years ago.
And now, Kimberlin is happy to report, she will have a regular space as well in downtown Greenfield at Bradley Hall. Suite 106, a studio space with plenty of room for supplies and a sink, will be the site of weekly watercolor classes and more.
“Anybody can do it– you just have to believe in yourself and know you can do it,” she said. “Just give it a try.”
Kimberlin has loved art for years and studied in high school under Greenfield artist Sandy Hall – now a mentor and colleague, but she still fondly calls “Mrs. Hall.”
In her years as a young mother, Kimberlin returned to art as a way to get some “me time.”
“I just realized how much I enjoyed it and how much I loved it, and it just kind of took off from there,” she said.
Now, she wants others in the community to have that therapeutic time – a time where they can get away for an hour or two tot pursue something they’re passionate about. She’s hosted children’s classes, wine-and-canvas style acrylic events at local business and watercolor courses– a trickier medium that takes patience and skill-building.
“Watercolor is what I’m known for– that’s my jam,” she said. “My favorite medium, my favorite one to teach … It takes time to understand it, but once you do, you’ll be like, ‘Wow, this is amazing.’”
At a recent watercolor class in Greenfield, about six women gathered to paint a sunset scene featuring two giraffes.
Jaclyn Roethler attended with her niece and said she enjoys Kimberlin’s teaching style.
Roethler has joined Kimberlin in her acrylic classes at pubs as well, and says watercolor has been surprisingly easier than she thought it would be.
“You know how some teachers can be, ‘Oh no no no, that’s not right,’” Roetheler said. “She’s more of, ‘You get to do it the way you want to do it.’ So if you start to question something in how you did it and you’re just not sure, she always puts the question back to you. ‘Do you like what you’ve done?’ If you don’t like something about it, she has you ponder what you don’t like about it before she puts in her opinion.”
Julie Davis was also at the class, with her daughter and mother. Baylie got started with Kimberlin years ago in her children’s class, and the family has sort of grown with Kimberlin and followed her business.
“She’s very open,” Davis said. “It’s not necessarily her way; she’ll teach the techniques but we’ll always look around and notice – we’re working on one painting but every one of our paintings looks different.”
Bradley Hall’s Suite 106 will be Kimberlin’s space for her weekly watercolor classes indefinitely, and she’s starting another class at Studio 309 in Fortville as well. Her Bradley Hall space will have art supplies for sale occasionally as well, and will be used during Riley Festival this fall.
She’s given art classes at local nonprofits, and coming up are several paint parties at area businesses. Kimberlin’s “Traveling Art Show” and news of upcoming classes can be followed on facebook.com/KimberlinArts. She hopes people give themselves time in their busy schedules to breathe and take advantage of the therapeutic opportunities art provides.
“I really think it can help people if you just give it a chance,” she said. “Everyone needs that time once in a while.”
