Kimberly McGraw Moore | Writer | Artist

So, tell us a bit about who you are, and how you first got involved with Epiphany Space.

I’m an Alabama native. I grew up on the coast and now live in east central Alabama, just a few minutes from the Georgia border, with my husband and our three pups.

My background is in history, anthropology, and museum education (though I’ve done a few other things too). I now spend my days writing and making art.

I stumbled across Epiphany Space on Facebook one day last fall when I found an event listing for a creative meet-up in Columbus, GA, not far from where I live. I was intrigued, and when I looked into Epiphany Space, I grew excited. My husband and I had been talking for a couple of years about finding a group just like this. Working within creative fields and running businesses comes with challenges and sacrifices and rewards. We wanted–needed, really–a space in which we could exchange ideas, give and receive support, and just meet cool people doing cool things.

I joined Epiphany Space’s online community and proceeded to meet those cool people. Then my husband and I attended our first meet-up in Columbus, met even more cool people, and had an absolute blast.

I found Epiphany Space precisely at a time I needed to find it. I’m so grateful for this community and the welcome and support I’ve already found here.

Who inspires you? What creative people or creative works make you say, “I want to do that”?

I’m most inspired by those who explore, who play, who try new things, who embrace continuous learning and growth, who aren’t complacent. I’m inspired by people who, as I do, work across disciplines and prove one doesn’t have to sacrifice one form of creation for another. Austin Kleon writes about this in Steal Like an Artist, which, along with the rest of the series, never fails to encourage me.

Artistically, Henri Matisse, the other Fauves, and the Post-Impressionists are my greatest influences. I also adore Janet Hill’s work. Her work is colorful and whimsical and rooted in story.

As for writing, I’m probably most influenced by Gothic writers such as Charlotte Bronte and Daphne du Maurier, Louisa May Alcott (both her Gothic thrillers and her better-known tame works), Agatha Christie, and Kahlil Gibran, among others. My work tends to wander from whimsical to dark to somewhere in between.

Where do you see your creative journey taking you? What would you like to be doing, say, five years from now?

Still writing and still making art. Still learning and still improving. I plan to continue acting. I’ve also long dreamed of establishing a studio/gallery with a co-working space, a co-op shop, and classes.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced along the way, and how did you deal with them?

Oh, challenges. (Cue laughter.) My greatest challenge is Bipolar Disorder, which means I cycle through periods of hypomania (up) and depression (down). I also deal with migraines, which are common among people with BPD. I’ve had to learn what triggers mood episodes and what I can do to support myself both in and out of episodes. One of my greatest needs is flexibility, and we have arranged life to allow for such a thing. I’m blessed that we are in a position in which I can stay home, focus on my art and writing, and work around my needs. But by far, the hardest thing has been learning to find balance and show myself grace. It’s something I must work at every day.

Are you working on anything cool or interesting right now? Anything you’d like to tell us about?

Right now, my husband and I are finishing up a Kickstarter project (our first one!), a supplemental systems and settings book for a tabletop roleplaying game. That project has been in the works for three years now.

Independently, I’m finishing up a manuscript I’ve been working on for several years. I just opened an online shop for my artwork. I also just finished an acting class and performed in our final showcase. That experience reminded me of how much I enjoy performing, something I haven’t really done since working in living history interpretation. I’m looking forward to another class in the fall.

What advice would you give to other artists and creatives in your field? Any words of wisdom for those looking to follow in your footsteps?

Complacency is the enemy of creativity. Don’t settle into doing the same thing over and over without working to improve. If you want to draw a portrait but all you do is draw smiley faces, you’ll get really good at smiley faces but never learn to draw a portrait. Masters are masters because they never stop learning and working and exploring. Surround yourself with others who are doing the same thing. Seek people with greater experience and skills who can guide you. Work hard, accept failure, learn what went wrong and why, then move forward and enjoy seeing the progress born of this process.