Kim Randleas

Kim Randleas (b.1975) was born and raised in a remote part of Eastern Oregon, rich with the culture of the American West, at the heart of Gold Rush country. Many of her childhood days were spent drawing with found charcoal pieces or painting landscapes with watercolors. Family outings were regularly in the mountains surrounding her hometown, where stories of early Native People were told. Lazy Sunday afternoons consisted of picnics and slow hikes; taking in the high desert views, but always keeping a lookout for obsidian chips indicating the location of an early Native’s flint knapping work. 

Her childhood home offered additional early artistic inspiration from a now well-worn coffee table book “Techniques of the Artists of the American West”, which featured twenty-one classic paintings of the American West. It included paintings by Frederic Remington, Joseph Henry Sharp, N.C. Wyeth, William Robinson Leigh, and Grace Hudson, among others, offering her first artistic influences.

Following high school graduation, Randleas dedicated 16 years to business ownership alongside her family. While an entrepreneurial career is very rewarding, it did not allow for artistic pursuits. However, in 2015, a visit from her father proved fortuitous. Having just returned from the barn with an easel he had found, he entered the house exclaiming, “I found this, and thought you might like to start painting again!” This moment reignited her passion for art, prompting her to delve into acrylics and later transition to oil painting in the fall of 2015. A turning point came in the spring of 2016 when, impulsively, she submitted her work to a regional museum exhibition. To her delight, she gained acceptance and claimed the "People’s Choice" Award, marking the commencement of her professional artistic career.

Having grown up in the West, she has always been fascinated by the era of Westward Expansion. Her grandmother taught her to sew during elementary school, fostering her love for handmade clothing and the West, which is evident in her antique clothing collection. This collection allows her to depict individuals in period attire sourced from her personal collection. Additionally, she incorporates historic and Western-inspired patterns and themes into her portrayals of regional animals.

With a gentle yet profound voice, she harmonizes history with contemporary reflection, aiming to bridge the gap between past eras and present reality. Her work sparks dialogue on the enduring complexities of the human spirit and the allure of exploration. Randleas lives and creates in her home studio outside Canyon City, Oregon enjoying the wildlife, extensive views, and solitude of her home nestled at the base of Canyon Mountain.