'I believe...that there is an animal spirit in every object I see. Half the fun of being an artist is using my imagination to set it free' ~ Artist Kim Loberg

Biography

Artist Kim Loberg grew up in Carroll, Nebraska, not far from where she now lives, in rural Hoskins. Kim developed a love for animals early in life, spending hours exploring her grandparents' farm where she often 'fished' their creek, catching crawdads, tadpoles and dragonfly nymphs. Kim raised butterflies during the summer months and went fishing with her family on weekends. Her life revolved around nature and the beauty it held.

Being able to draw from a young age, Kim's drawings became more realistic as time went on, and by the 3rd grade, she began winning art contests that were held on a local TV station. At  age 14, Kim discovered a new medium when a neighbor, Vic Marquardt, taught her how to oil paint. Suddenly, the animals she drew came to life with each colorful brush stroke. It was then that Kim knew she wanted to become a professional artist.

Kim majored in art in high school, taking every class she could from drawing and painting to pottery, some she even took twice as an advanced class. She has fond memories of her teacher, Ted Blenderman, who used to tell her, 'Kim, if I wanted a picture of a bear, I'd go out and photograph one.' His instruction guided her to a more expressive way of painting.

After graduating from Wayne/Carroll High School, Kim found that college was not an option, choosing instead to raise a family on a farm in the country, complete with horses, dogs and cats. Life changed and, Kim found herself back at school, first earning an Associate Degree in Business Management from Northeast Community College and then a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts from Wayne State College. She excelled at college courses and became a member of both Phi Theta Kappa and Theta Sigma Lambda (for non-traditional students), the Honor Societies for 2-year and 4-year colleges.

Kim was inspired by the works of Salvador Dali, René Magritte, Georgia O'Keeffe and wildlife artist Bob Kuhn. While taking an Advanced Painting class at Wayne State College, she developed what she called her 'Bone Paintings.' Using horses as her muse, she painted the equines' form and allowed the surreal beauty of the their skeletons to show through on the outside. Kim continues to explore those elements, often incorporating them in her paintings, as she continues on her artistic journey.