About the artist
About
About Me
Hello, I am
Kim Cesaretti
Artist | Designer | Art Instructor
My Story
I have been an artist since the moment my mother gave me a crayon and paper to draw on. In fact, it was my mother who first recognized that I had talent. When I was under 5, I had drawn some characters from my favorite comic strip and she thought that I had traced the images. When she realized that the characters were not the same scale, she discovered my talent for drawing.
That’s how it all began. I loved to draw and paint and, due to the praise and encouragement I received at such a young age, I began my lifelong journey as an artist. It wasn’t without its challenges, though.
Like many artists, my path got diverted with the practical need to support myself. I always wanted to be a fine artist, though. I consider myself very lucky to have the support of my family and loved ones and to have the time, energy, wisdom and money to live my best art life. I am truly living my dream.
Mission | Vision | Values
Mission
My mission is to live my best art life and to grow artists and art lovers. I want to help others discover their artistic genius – to paint the artist within. My mission as an artist is to create art that looks and feels like me and to spread beauty and joy. Through engaging, thought provoking and evocative paintings, my work invites the viewer to pause, rest, wonder, connect, feel, converse, smile, and maybe even laugh a little. We can all use a little carefree timelessness and a break from the ordinary, the chaos, and other worries in the world.
Vision
My vision is to be the innovative leader for helping artists gain the courage and confidence they need to paint the artist within and to share their unique voices and art with the world.
Values
My core values are
- Love
- Kindness
- Acceptance
- Generosity
- Connection
- Community
To tie it all together, I strive to do small things with great love and kindness, whether I’m mentoring or teaching or working with a client to select a piece of art that would be a perfect match for them. I meet my students and my clients where they are in their creative journey and I respect and accept who they are in their art, or the art they would like to surround themselves with. I am generous with my time, attention, and resources – for me it is important to give more than to receive. Also, I feel it’s so important to create a community where artists can feel connected as the life of a creative is often a lonely pursuit. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts – we are stronger together!
A Brief Bio
Kim Cesaretti is a teaching artist who creates whimsical surreal self-portraits, landscapes, still lifes, and figurative works in watercolor, acrylic, oil, and black and white mediums. She shows her work on her website, on social media, in the galleries of local arts nonprofits, local cafes, juried art shows, and anyone within 5 feet of her who is willing to see it on her phone!
Kim finds great joy in teaching drawing, acrylic painting, oil painting, and watercolor to adults and teens. Beginner artists hold a special place in her heart.
A patriot at heart with a strong sense of service, Kim worked for the US Navy for 16 years, first as a Graphics Artist/Visual Information Specialist, and then as a Contract Specialist. She also taught Web Design Graphics as an Adjunct Instructor at GCU.
Kim began her studies at the prestigious Mason Gross School of the Arts. After realizing that she didn’t fit in at art school wearing her favorite cardigan and penny loafers, she decided to come back home, work her way through school, and completed degrees at Ocean County College (A.A. Fine Arts, summa cum laude), Georgian Court University (GCU) (B.A., Art Education, magna cum laude) and Capitol College (M.S., Systems Management with a Certificate in Technology Management).
Kim was born in Rahway, NJ and lived in Hillside, NJ. While still an infant, her family moved “down the shore” to beautiful Lacey Township, NJ, where she grew up and now lives and works with her wonderful family and two cute crazy dogs.
CV Summary
Solo Shows
May 2022, Lacey Branch of the Ocean County Library, Homecoming
Sept 2021, Ocean County Artists Guild (OCAG), Change of Course
Jan 2019, Pine Shores Art Association (PSAA)
Juried Shows
OCAG, July 2020, First Place, Juried Art Show, Still Life/Floral Category, When Life Hands You Lemons, oil on canvas
July 2017, Lacey United Methodist Church Juried Art Show, 2nd Place, Adult Professional Watercolor Category, The Greatest Generation, watercolor on paper
Teaching / Work Experience
Sept 2017 to present, Art Instructor, OCAG, 27 Chestnut Avenue, Island Heights, NJ, teach acrylic painting, oil painting, beginner drawing, beginner watercolor to adults and teens
April 2015 to present, Art Instructor, Pine Shores Art Association, 94 Stafford Avenue, Manahawkin, NJ, teach beginner acrylic painting to adults.
Dec 2007 to present, Freelance Graphic Designer
Jan 2000 to Dec 2007, Georgian Court University, Adjunct Instructor, AR327 Web Design Graphics
July 1997 to October 2004, Contract Specialist, NAWCAD Lakehurst
July 1990 to July 1997, Graphics Artist/Visual Information Specialist, NAWCAD Lakehurst
Lectures & Demos
05/2019, OCAG, acrylic painting demo, Close Focus Flowers
10/2018, PSAA, acrylic painting demo, Fall Reflections
02/2018, PSAA, lecture, Aerial/Atmospheric Perspective
Publications
2021, Guide to the Jersey Shore, Page 6, image of Beauty and the Beach, pastel on paper, compiled and illustrated by PSAA, copyright 2021
Education
Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University
A.A. Fine Arts, Ocean County College, summa cum laude
B.A. Art Education, Georgian Court University, magna cum laude, Art Award and Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence
M.S. Systems Management, Capitol College, Certificate in Technology Management
