Gallery 'N' Gifts' September Guest Artist is painter Kim Tellez.

Kim says of her journey, "I was a doodler and writer as a child growing up on the East Coast. We moved quite a bit, and those two pastimes gave me a sense of purpose and stability, no matter where we ended up. I illustrated my stories, notebooks and homemade greeting cards. Later, I also found old paint in our Concord, Massachusetts basement and painted sprawling murals on my bedroom walls.

"From there I studied Fine Arts and Latin American Studies at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts I was attracted to the Rose Art Museum there because it displayed only contemporary art. Although painting was my favorite medium, I took courses in sculpture, intaglio and art history as well. During my junior year, I lived and painted in Spain and then moved to California after graduation. In California I taught elementary school, raised a family, and eventually returned to figure drawing and painting. I dove into abstract art with a colorful, chaotic splash. I adore experimenting with texture, collage, roller brushes, scraping and, of course, color. My work has been shown at Gallery 800 in North Hollywood with the Art Directors Guild and at Carter Sexton in North Hollywood with the San Fernando Valley Art Club. I am thrilled to have found another community of art makers and art lovers here in Tehachapi."

Kim will be featured at Gallery 'N' Gifts Sept. 4 through 28. Gallery 'N' Gifts is open Tues. through Sun. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., located at 100 W. Tehachapi Blvd.