Kim is a Southern Illinois artist who in 1991 obtained a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. After graduation, Kim worked as a Park Ranger for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Carlyle Lake, now retired. She is a lover of the outdoors. Working in the outdoors has given her ample opportunity and inspiration to hone her skills in wildlife and landscape art. Working in colored pencil allows her to create detail showing the subject in its natural environment.