.Artist Statement I started drawing at a year old when, sick in the hospital with severe asthma, a nurse handed me some paper and some crayons, everyone laughed and thought, yeah, right, when to their surprise I started drawing actual pictures, I drew a cat, since my family had a cat (named Daisy) at the time, I have been drawing ever since. For me art is my way of dealing with everything that is jumbled up in my head, it’s how I keep my sanity or else it keeps me insane, I’m not sure which, perhaps the latter is more accurate, LOL. Dogs have always been my favorite subject matter. They have such a funny human quality and I strive to capture this in my work. It’s as if they have this whole other world going on that we no nothing about, they just let on that we own them, when it’s really the other way around. Some of my favorite artists include: Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Andy Warhol, Patrick Nagel, and Sue Dawe. I never want to become stagnant as an artist. I want to allow myself to develop new ideas, and always have a fresh outlook on my work. I think I was probably born in the wrong era, but if it means being a starving artist, that's okay. I'd rather starve doing something that is my lifeblood, than be rich doing something boring. -Kimberly Ann Helgeson (1997) About the Artist

me and my boys Jeb and K.J.

Spreading a little light, joy, and good humour in the darkness...

resume     artist bio     artist statement

The Puppy Kisses Collection

I have been selling my art to the public since 1991 and I have been doing private commissions since 1989.

Let me introduce my fur babies:

Princess Nala, the tortie lionhead bunny

Ava Gardner the movie star (sable sheltie puppy)

Lana Lang the super model (bi-black sheltie)

Kiara the show-off (bi-black sheltie)

K.J. the super kool (bi-black chw sheltie)

Cheyenne the Sporty (gray siberian husky)

Nadia the fabulous (bi-black sheltie)

Falisha the golden girl (blue merle sheltie)

Jeb the super stud! (sable sheltie)

I have endless inspiration with these guys! They are all such characters :)

Max, who insists he's just one of the dogs (don't bother telling him the truth - I don't think he'd ever believe you.)

And the cat-dogs in training (these were rescue kittens)

Soccer Ball (can you tell my youngest daughter named him?)

Midnight, Thinking of throwing a party? She's your cat.

Nala being a princess

Max, guarding the remote control

Ava's first bath after we brought her home.

And I couldn't do it without the loving support of my wonderful husband and beautiful children!

My guys

(My husband Shelby, and my son Tristan)

My angels, Shaylee and Jasmine

 

©2009 Kimberly Helgeson Sams all rights reserved permission for use must be granted in writing