“A Day in the Life” with Calgary Visual Artist Kim Blankert

Through her paintings, Kim Blankert makes the viewer fall in love with crows. Many people she knows comment on how they notice birds more after getting to know her and her work.

Having spent her formative years in London, England she was exposed to many forms of art and art culture. This is where she first fell in love with art. Kim started in graphic design at York University and later finished as a drawing major at the Alberta College of Art (now Alberta University of the Arts) in 1992. Kim has been a practising artist in Calgary, Alberta since then.

Even though her inspiration and subject matter changes and evolves over time it’s obvious she loves all things crows, corvids and ravens. I can see their individual personalities shine through her work. Quote from the artist; “my hope is that I have translated how I see birds into my oil paintings and that you, the viewer will see them for the special characters they all are.”

Kim Blankert
Kim’s studio
Kim Blankert
Fall show 2023
Kim with her crows
It’s all in the details
Newest work in progress
Kim Blankert
The process
Kim Blankert
Headstand

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Which ‘hood are you in?

I work/create out of my home studio in the neighbourhood of Auburn Bay, Calgary, Alberta.

What do you do?

I am a visual artist working in oil paint on cradled wood, but I was formally trained and majored in drawing at the Alberta College of Art. I am really into crows, ravens, and sometimes other birds now.

What are you currently working on?

I am a little bit obsessed with crows right now. I am currently working on a piece that shows a crow interacting with a goat. I try to put the personality I see in these birds into my work. I also give them actual names which people seem to love. One of my first sales was a large portrait of a crow I named Larry. My goal is to connect nature with the viewer even if that is in a fun and quirky way.

Where can we find your work?

You can find my work on my website as well as on Instagram.

 

About Emilea Semancik 140 Articles
Emilea Semancik was born in North Vancouver. Emilea has always always wanted to work as a freelance writer and currently writes for the Vancouver Guardian. Taking influence from journalism culture surrounding the great and late Anthony Bourdain, she is a recipe author working towards publishing her own series of books. You can find her food blog on Instagram: