Paintings by Kim Testone

Why I Almost Didn’t Finish My Largest Painting Ever…a Five-Foot-Tall Fudge Ripple Ice Cream Cone I've been painting ice cream cones in a wide range of sizes for probably at least six years, maybe longer. Dozens and dozens of ice cream cones. I've learned a lot, I've adjusted my technique, I've aimed for greater realism and yet simultaneously a more painterly approach (which really can only be appreciated in person). But when I decided to tackle the largest ice cream cone I've ever painted -- 5 feet by 4 feet -- I was unprepared for exactly how challenging it would be.

Why I Almost Didn’t Finish My Largest Painting Ever…a Five-Foot-Tall Fudge Ripple Ice Cream Cone

I've been painting ice cream cones in a wide range of sizes for probably at least six years, maybe longer. Dozens and dozens of ice cream cones. I've learned a lot, I've adjusted my technique, I've…

Why I Almost Didn’t Finish My Largest Painting Ever…a Five-Foot-Tall Fudge Ripple Ice Cream Cone I've been painting ice cream cones in a wide range of sizes for probably at least six years, maybe longer. Dozens and dozens of ice cream cones. I've learned a lot, I've adjusted my technique, I've aimed for greater realism and yet simultaneously a more painterly approach (which really can only be appreciated in person). But when I decided to tackle the largest ice cream cone I've ever painted -- 5 feet by 4 feet -- I was unprepared for exactly how challenging it would be.

Why I Almost Didn’t Finish My Largest Painting Ever…a Five-Foot-Tall Fudge Ripple Ice Cream Cone

I've been painting ice cream cones in a wide range of sizes for probably at least six years, maybe longer. Dozens and dozens of ice cream cones. I've learned a lot, I've adjusted my technique, I've…

The Failed Painting that Changed My Art Forever One of the nice things about blogging is that it enables me to slow down and just show my art and talk about it a little bit, rather than constantly battle the algorithms of various social media platforms to get noticed. Today, I thought I talk about the failed painting that led up to what I consider to be a breakthrough painting in my new Cookie Landscape series, "The Daydreamer."

The Failed Painting that Changed My Art Forever

One of the nice things about blogging is that it enables me to slow down and just show my art and talk about it a little bit, rather than constantly battle the algorithms of various social media platforms to get noticed. Today, I thought I talk about…

Why I Made a Conscious Choice to Make Happy Art I decided to name my blog Making Happy Art for a reason. It's not a gimmick, and if anything I hope that it helps to clarify what it is that I paint. But what makes my work "Happy Art," and why would I limit my direction in painting by restricting it? I think the simplest way to explain my reasoning is to say that I treat my art as a job -- a very important job -- and in doing so, I believe it's only right to have a job description for myself: I make happy art.

Why I Made a Conscious Choice to Make Happy Art

I decided to name my blog Making Happy Art for a reason. It's not a gimmick, and if anything I hope that it helps to clarify what it is that I paint. But what makes my work "Happy Art," and why would I limit my direction in painting by restricting…

Three Reasons I Wish You Could See My New Paintings in Person and Not Online My next in-person solo show will be March 6-27, 2026, at Hidell Brooks Gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina. When I tell people that my paintings, especially my new Cookie Landscape trompe l'oeil paintings, take dozens to hundreds of hours to paint, the usual responses are "Wow" or "Why?" While it is honestly a crazy amount of hours for a single painting, it is also necessary to my painting process.

Three Reasons I Wish You Could See My New Paintings in Person and Not Online

My next in-person solo show will be March 6-27, 2026, at Hidell Brooks Gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina. When I tell people that my paintings, especially my new Cookie Landscape trompe l'oeil paintings, take dozens to…

Sharing my magical trompe l’oeil paintings (all flat, acrylic) to #BlueSky and my blog MakingHappyArt.com more. Here are the seven new paintings that will be in my March show at Hidell Brooks Gallery in Charlotte, NC. Enjoy! #art #painting #acrylic #artist #bskyart #bskyartist #realism #realisticart

Three Videos of My Paintings that Recently Went Viral on TikTok First, let me state that I believe the definition of "viral" in terms of social media is relative, both to the person sharing a post and with regard to the niche of the post. Early on when I was posting to TikTok, I had a video of me painting a giant ice cream sundae near 10,000 views. For me, at that time, that was viral.

Three Videos of My Paintings that Recently Went Viral on TikTok

First, let me state that I believe the definition of "viral" in terms of social media is relative, both to the person sharing a post and with regard to the niche of the post. Early on when I was posting to TikTok, I had a video of me…

I launched two mini art print clubs. Here are 8 reasons why you should consider joining… What you'll get in my March 2026 Sweet Escapes Art Print Club: Signed 5" x 5" heavy-weight fine art print of my recent painting Butterflies in the Sky, in an archival sleeve, mini folding card with envelope, the secret Apricot Bars recipe, plus a letter from me, all packed up in a super cute "escapes" envelope. I do all printing, including the envelope, in my studio.

I launched two mini art print clubs. Here are 8 reasons why you should consider joining…

What you'll get in my March 2026 Sweet Escapes Art Print Club: Signed 5" x 5" heavy-weight fine art print of my recent painting Butterflies in the Sky, in an archival sleeve, mini folding card with envelope,…

I launched two mini art print clubs. Here are 8 reasons why you should consider joining… What you'll get in my March 2026 Sweet Escapes Art Print Club: Signed 5" x 5" heavy-weight fine art print of my recent painting Butterflies in the Sky, in an archival sleeve, mini folding card with envelope, the secret Apricot Bars recipe, plus a letter from me, all packed up in a super cute "escapes" envelope. I do all printing, including the envelope, in my studio.

I launched two mini art print clubs. Here are 8 reasons why you should consider joining…

What you'll get in my March 2026 Sweet Escapes Art Print Club: Signed 5" x 5" heavy-weight fine art print of my recent painting Butterflies in the Sky, in an archival sleeve, mini folding card with envelope,…

The gingerbread/frosting model is about three feet long, the painting is four feet long and is totally flat. It is super-detailed and took me hundreds of hours to paint. Baking and decorating a real-life model is very time-consuming, but it’s necessary and gives my painting a much more human quality, I think. Hope it made you smile!

Baked a giant gingerbread neighborhood so I could paint a giant-er gingerbread neighborhood…”Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” acrylic on panel, 48”x36”…soon available at Hidell Brooks Gallery in Charlotte, NC. #art #painting #artprocess #paintingprocess #artist #artlove #acrylic #realism #noai

The gingerbread/frosting model is about three feet long, the painting is four feet long and is totally flat. It is super-detailed and took me hundreds of hours to paint. Baking and decorating a real-life model is very time-consuming, but it’s necessary and gives my painting a much more human quality, I think. Hope it made you smile!

Baked a giant gingerbread neighborhood so I could paint a giant-er gingerbread neighborhood…”Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” acrylic on panel, 48”x36”…soon available at Hidell Brooks Gallery in Charlotte, NC. #art #painting #artprocess #paintingprocess #artist #artlove #acrylic #realism #noai

Need positivity? Try my new Sweet Escapes Art Print Club. You’ll get a real signed mini fine print of one of my whimsical food paintings, not a postcard, plus a note and a few extras each month in your mailbox! kimtestone.com/products/swe...

#art #snailmail #printclub #mailclub #bskyart #artist

Happy to do a soft launch of my new Sweet Escapes Art Print Club, featuring mini fine art prints of my whimsical food landscape paintings and some extra fun goodies! Because really, don’t we all feel like we need an escape right now? kimtestone.com/products/swe...

#art #positivevibes #artist #artsy

I bake, then paint…no AI. Nothing but imagination and a lot of long hours. Hope the work makes you smile! #art #artist #painting #paintings #paintingprocess #artistslife #baker #artlover #artnerd #creative #trompeloeil #realism #realisticpainting #noai #realisticart #whimsical #newrealism

I bake, then paint…no AI. Nothing but imagination and a lot of long hours. Hope the work makes you smile! #art #artist #painting #paintings #paintingprocess #artistslife #baker #artlover #artnerd #creative #trompeloeil #realism #realisticpainting #noai #realisticart #whimsical #newrealism

Because real art made by real people is important… #realart #noai #art #artprocess #painting #acrylicpainting #supportart #supportartists #womenartists #traditionalart #modernart #modernpainting #traditionalpainting #shareart #artlover #realism #realisticart #realisticpainting #artist #artonbsky

Because real art made by real people is important… #realart #noai #art #artprocess #painting #acrylicpainting #supportart #supportartists #womenartists #traditionalart #modernart #modernpainting #traditionalpainting #shareart #artlover #realism #realisticart #realisticpainting #artist #artonbsky

Happy Halloween! “Chasing Butterflies,” acrylic on panel, 24”x18”. Will be part of my March 2026 Cookie Landscapes show at Hidell Brooks Gallery in Charlotte, NC. This piece is flat but painted to look dimensional. #art #painting #modernart #traditionalpainting #realism #artlover #realisticpainting

Thanks so much! I appreciate it!

Feels like Autumn today, so here’s a little fall painting in progress…Chasing Butterflies, acrylic on panel, 24”x18”. Aiming for a Halloween completion! #art #painting #paintinginprogress #wip #workinprogress #paintingprocess #halloween #autumn #acrylic #acrylicpainting #modernart #artonbsky #artsy

This painting is totally flat, no raised texture. Hope it makes you smile! Prints of this piece at kimtestone.com. #art #painting #paintingprocess #artprocess #noai #humanmade #womenartists #artlover #processvideo #modernart #traditionalart #traditionalpainting ##creative #trompeloeil #cookielover

Thank you so much! 🥰

So I kind of went viral on TikTok with my latest video of one of my paintings - approaching 180,000 views and 39,000 likes. Crazy. But there’s some very kind people there. www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8ABJjjx/

#art #artprocess #realisticart #realism #acrylic #acrylicpainting #painting #hyperrealism #artist

Thanks so much! ❤️

If you were wondering…Butterflies in the Sky, 24”x24”, acrylic on panel is flat. It took more than 200 hours to paint plus three days to build the cookie model. Hope it makes you smile! #painting #realism #paint #acrylic #acrylicpaint #artist #artists #blueskyart #blueskyartists #modernpainting

Feeling like putting some happy magic in the world today. Want to see this painting up close? #art #painting #realisticpainting #realisticart #artist #artistsonbluesky #modernpainting #traditionalart #traditionalpainting #hyperrealism #whimsical #artsy #blueskyart #blueskyartists #acrylic

Thanks so much, Klaire!

My weird humor. Been an artist of sorts for many years. Next gallery solo show coming March 2026. Featured here: Butterflies in the Sky, acrylic on panel, 24”x24”. #art #artists #bskyart #realisticart #artistslife #artonbluesky #hyperrealism #modernart #modernpainting #artlover #traditionalart

Last day to sign up for my new mini monthly ice cream Art print club if you want Strawberry Scoops! Signed mini print, sent in a protective sleeve, in a snail mail envelope. How fun is that? #snailmail #art #artlove #artprints #artcollector #foodart #foodpainting #artistsofbluesky #supportartists

Painting process…this one has taken me over 200 hours so far. Hoping that im making things that give people some #hope . That makes it worth it. #art #artprocess #painting #paintingprocess #acrylicpainying #realism #modernart #traditionalpainting #creative #artsy #artlover #hyperrealism #artlife