Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimber Grobman.
Kimber, before we jump into specific questions about your art, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In 2004 I graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Illustration. After college, I waited tables because I wasn’t sure how to get started in my field. I’ve always wanted to be a children’s book illustrator, but I wasn’t sure how to get there and I was intimidated by the competitive nature of that field. But, waiting tables, I learned very quickly how much networking with my patrons would help me in my art career. I met a wonderful lady who worked for Hasbro Toys. She helped me get an interview for a temp position there. Soon enough, I was working as a temp in the comp packaging department and eventually would move over to the model shop, where I painted prototype toys. Working at Hasbro was really a springboard for my career.
After about a year there, I got an opportunity to meet Seth Green and tour the ShadowMachine Animation studio in Los Angeles, where Robot Chicken was filmed at the time. After the tour, I just knew I wanted to work on that show more than anything, so I moved to California to make it happen. A month after I started an internship on Robot Chicken, I was hired on as the first-ever credited graphic artist for the show. (Season 4) While working on the show, I created signage and paintings on miniature scale to go within the sets. It was so much fun; I even received an Emmy Certificate for my participation on the season. When I realized the season would end soon, I started the hunt for a second job. I soon stumbled upon a job listing for a Sign Artist at a local Trader Joe’s. I got the job and started creating signage and paintings but this time on a larger scale. I spend eight years at that job, I loved it! Every year my art and my hand lettering would just get better and better.
Soon I was taking freelance jobs creating chalkboard signage for businesses such as local bakeries, restaurants and even several LuLuLemons. At one point, I even got a job at Disneyland, where I drew caricatures in the park! I was really starting to blossom and figure out what I really wanted to do. Pretty soon I was starting to branch out with my personal work, including attending events where I could sell my art. First, it was paintings, then prints and eventually, I was even painting pop culture nesting dolls. About five years ago, I relocated here to Florida with my boyfriend for his job. For me, that meant I would have to completely start over. All my clients were in California; I even had to give up my job at Trader Joe’s because there wasn’t one close to our new location. But, I like a challenge, the first thing I did was call the local Painting With a Twist to find out if they were hiring. When we finally got out here I went to downtown Melbourne and started handing my business brochures to local businesses advertising my chalkboard work.
I also went into Painting with a Twist with my portfolio and basically told them they needed to hire me, lol. I was a little pushy but I knew I could do the job. Pretty soon I was working there and also obtaining lots of freelance work from around town. I was even asked to paint a mural on the side of the Melbourne Regional Chamber, which led to more murals, including several at the restaurant Crush XI. I have also been fortunate enough to work with the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival every year since it started, creating the chalkboard menus for the participating restaurants. Currently I am working as an art contractor, where I am getting steady work, so my freelance murals and chalkboards have slowed down. I am still creating lots of personal work including more Pop Culture Nesting Dolls, I even branched out to hand lettered and character ornaments during the Holiday Season. I am also working on a children’s book and a graphic novel which I intend to self publish.
Has it been a smooth road?
It wasn’t always a smooth road but I will say the right opportunities at the right time just fall into place. There were a few jobs I applied for in Los Angeles after Robot Chicken that I didn’t get and they were huge blows to my ego at the time. For example, I applied to work as a storyboard artist on the Simpsons, a show called Pickle and Peanut and I also did the character design and prop design tests for Rick and Morty. When I didn’t get those jobs I was so devastated, but eventually I realized they just weren’t the right fit for me. The biggest blow to my ego was about a year before I met my boyfriend.
I applied to a prototype painter job at Hasbro, which I had done before, but this time they had a branch in California. I thought I was a shoe-in. I was even interviewed by the guy I worked with in Rhode Island. Then I didn’t get the job, I was destroyed. I felt like I was a failure, but the truth is, that’s not where my life was meant to go. I am a creative person, working at Trader Joe’s I had A LOT of creative freedom. Doing a job for a tv show, or a big corporation, you don’t have that creative freedom, you have to follow the formula. So it all worked out for me, even if it didn’t feel that way at the time.
We’d love to hear more about your art.
I’m kind a “Jill” of all Trades. I do everything from digital illustration, to acrylic painting, to sign art, I mean you name, I probably do it. My passion is Illustration, but I think most people know me for my hand lettering. I really love vibrant color and I’m always trying to put a humorous spin into my work. I also really enjoy a good Food Pun and have been creating designs for stickers, magnets and even mugs that have been a big hit at Megacon. My custom ornaments have really taken off too for the last three years. I really like to paint characters (it was an easy jump from Nesting Dolls) but also write funny sayings on them. Honestly I’m most proud of how far I’ve come and that I am always trying something new. I even started a YouTube channel last year to show my art process and just have fun with art.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think for me the future will shift into doing strictly more illustration work. I’ve learned so many skills since I graduated from RISD, but they all contribute to what I really want to do. Like with the hand lettering, I found ways to incorporate it digitally into fun and unique designs for my stickers and such.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kimberlandart.com
- Email: Kimberlandart@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlandart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimberlandArt
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI4A1VhDVZiE8CvRB4eJOJQ
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