KIM MATTHEWS WHEATON WAS BORN IN 1950, IN NEW YORK CITY. SHE GREW UP AND ATTENDED SCHOOL IN SAN FRANCISCO, CONNECTICUT, AND BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA. SINCE 1997 SHE HAS LIVED AND PAINTED IN THE COLUMBIA BASIN REGION OF EASTERN WASHINGTON, WITH HER FAMILY, DOGS, AND HORSES CLOSE AT HAND.

SERIOUS PAINTING BEGAN IN HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS FOLLOWED BY FORMAL TRAINING AND A BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS DEGREE FROM U.C. BERKELEY. INSTRUCTION FROM ELMER BISCHOFF AND THE READY ACCESS TO WORKS BY RICHARD DIEBENKORN AND WAYNE THIEBAUD WERE FORMATIVE INFLUENCES.

EARLY WORKS INCLUDED LARGE OIL CANVASES OF THE GENTLY SEDUCTIVE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE. THERE FOLLOWED A 20-YEAR PERIOD OF HIGHLY REPRESENTATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL PAINTING, EXECUTED IN GOUACHE (WATERCOLOR) AND FEATURING THE DISTINCTIVE BUILDING STYLES OF NEW MEXICO, SAN FRANCISCO, PARIS, VENICE, AND THE CARIBBEAN. THIS BODY OF WORK EMPHASIZED THE INTERPLAY OF LIGHT, SHADOWS, AND SURFACES.