(Kim McCool)

Fairyland Fantasies from a Magical Realm
by Pam North
Kim McCool is a romantic at heart - she loves fairy tales and stories of magic and fantasy. As a creative child, she always was making something. “I remember waking up one morning when I was little and thinking “What do I feel special about today?” she related. “Sometimes I’d knit; sometimes it was a new ‘something’ for my Barbie and her Dream House; or maybe it was weaving dandelions together for a crown for one of my dolls.”

A childhood visit to the Thorne Rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago took her breath away. “I had no idea people could make things so tiny and perfect; I was utterly fascinated and smitten! My parents had quite the time trying to get me to leave! I got hooked on miniatures right then and there. Then fast forward 50 years, when I discovered Dana Burton’s gorgeous porcelain dolls (DanaBurton.com), and became addicted to her doll kits. That’s when my passion for miniatures exploded.”

After  a 30-year career with corporate America, Kim retired 12 years ago, and now she is able to devote her time to her home, family, and sculpting. Her family is supportive, amazed at her work in clay and fascinated by the tiny things she creates. It’s a toss-up as to who’s her biggest fan. “My constant companion is Emma, a 5-pound teacup schnauzer. She is in my lap whenever I’m in my studio, and she isn’t shy about giving her opinion while I’m working. My husband, also retired, encourages me when I’m frustrated, and celebrates in my successes. I couldn’t ask for better harmony more! We live in mid-America on a small farm, and living in nature like this is truly peaceful and enriching. The kids are grown and off on their own, so time is ours now to explore new avenues and experience new adventures.”

Inspiration comes easily for Kim. “I love the beauty of nature itself, and fairy tales and fantasy stories. The costuming in movies and television shows fascinates me. I also am inspired when I look at what others have sculpted. I marvel at their skills, and it encourages me to improve. When I create something, I pour myself into the tiniest of details. My ultimate goals for each piece I create are wonder and joy, and it’s my hope that my creations reflect this enchantment, as fairies, mermaids and child figures are happy beings! We have so much turmoil in this world, I want my pieces to bring a smile to someone’s face.”

Kim’s first doll was 18 inches, but her passion has always been for miniatures. As she developed her sculpting skills, her pieces became smaller and smaller, and now she adeptly sculpts in 1:12 scale. One sculpt she has been unable to part with is her Eve. “She is 18 inches (45cm) tall; I named her Eve (after Adam and Eve) because she was the first doll I ever made. When I’m frustrated or feel defeated because the clay won’t do what I want, I look at her. Eve is a reminder that I can do this. She was just the beginning, and I can’t give give up because who knows what else I can achieve?”

Kim finds that her greatest difficulty in working with miniatures is that there are so many things to create and not enough time. “There are tips and techniques just waiting out there for me to discover. Sometimes there are so many ideas ricocheting around in my head I feel like it’s going to explode! I love the wonder that miniatures bring; the tiniest of details surprise me when I look at them closely. I’m in awe of the many artists who have honed their craft and can create breathtaking beauty in such a tiny scale.”
Without any formal training in the miniature field, Kim is mostly self-taught in all her endeavors. Her background encompasses a variety of artistic adventures - from oil painting to writing, needlework, porcelain portraiture, and now sculpting - all which have brought her joy. “I’ve been published, won several awards, been featured in articles, and been promoted on television with my artwork. It really has been an exciting, fantastic, unbelievable journey.”

Working with her hands brings her joy, a feeling of purpose, a way to express herself to the world. “When I show my pieces, I feel like I’m baring my soul,” she explained. “It’s a feeling of vulnerability, but also fulfillment. There’s a feeling of magic and getting lost in time while working on a project. The challenging (and sometimes frustrating) process of making something, from bits and pieces of seemingly disparate materials, is slowly being lost in our world because of the time it takes. Centuries and decades ago, craftsmen spent hours, days, even months carefully creating something out of nothing for everyone to marvel at and cherish. I fear this dedication and respect for such skill is being lost in our technically modern times.”

That thought led her into the future of miniatures, a subject which Kim finds very thought-provoking. “I think the question has a broader scope, encompassing art in and of itself. The world we live in has changed dramatically in the past 20 to 30 years, and we now live in a disposable society, one of instant gratification. I believe this has had an adverse affect on younger people. The challenge for those of us who love to create is to share, reach out, and be a guide for the younger generations, providing a path that will enable them to feel the wonder and amazement we all feel in this wonderful world of miniature art. That said, I think the future of miniatures has great potential to grow and flourish.”

Looking ahead to her plans for future creations, she shared her thoughts: “In continually striving to improve my techniques, I seem to go off on tangents and create different series, depending on my mood and ideas. For example, I created a Forest Floor Fairies series that featured tiny fairies snuggled in half walnut shells; and a Sea Sprites series of fairies in tiny hermit crab shells. One of my favorites was called Stitching Fairies, sculpted and posed in stitching-themed settings. I sculpted Nimway, a 1:12 scale fairy for Dana Burton’s Camelot Court series. Who knows what idea will pop into my head next? That’s what keeps my passion and love for this art form alive in my heart.”

Contact information:
Name: Kim McCool
Business name: Kim McCool Art
Email: Kim.McCool.Art@gmail.com
Website: https://kimmccoolart.weebly.com
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kimmccoolart/
 Phone: 563.340.0071
Address: 3750 Nobis Drive, Davenport, IA 52802 USA