“Color Me Beautiful” – an artist and writer’s journey inspiring hope and self-advocacy

Addressing personal and social issues, Inspiring hope and self-advocacy in children

Kimberlee (Kimmie) Mallett’s journey as an artist and author of “Color Me Beautiful” begins with her father’s artistic iNFLuence, when she used captivating images from her childhood, such as Little Mermaid, reference images and practiced painting from observations.

What evolved was the result of grappling with personal struggles from autism to school bullying to building relationships – lifelong learning to express her artistic talents and to understand entrepreneurship. The concept of “beautiful” is a guiding theme for the artist herself, and it is a mission for her work.

Kimmie recalls her father’s early influence in woodworking, where he carved her favorite characters, and painted them for her bedroom. He would do art with her, and he made special birthday posters for friends to sign.

She admits her art skills and drawing interests were limited – until she connected with nonprofit ‘The Outsiders Collective’, a community of artists and professionals, working to enhance the lives of those living with differing abilities. Founder and executive director, Carrie Hyde-Riley, and others developed Kimmie’s talents, challenged her approach, and expanded her activities to include chair yoga, improv classes, and building an art car for the Art Park Derby.

“I was just outlining, using a Sharpie and pencil for cartoon illustration,” notes Kimmie. “I was painting from what I see in a little sketch. Carrie got me out of my comfort zone.” 

Kimmie explained in detail Carrie’s approach to working with her. “She printed out images for me; she taught me, step by step, how to paint from observation, mixing the colors, the shadows, the lights, the mid to dark, the mid-tones.”  

Since that time, Kimmie’s skills have evolved. She had just completed what she calls “the hardest painting,” where the image was blurred, focusing Kimmie’s vision of a picnic with wine on the beach, at sunset.

She creates at the Outsiders Collaborative three days a week, where her work is displayed, and she continues working at her home studio. 

Publishing “Color Me Beautiful“

But that is not her primary focus. Kimmie has published and sold hundreds of copies of her book, titled “Color Me Beautiful,” written as a memoir of her childhood, one consumed by low self-esteem. School teachers weren’t helpful to this autistic child, and the students as well, who were just kids, were not particularly kind. Kimmie understood what bullying was before the term became mainstream, years later.  

Her book – “Color Me Beautiful” – is intended for young adults who struggle with social issues.

Kimmie wrote about how she managed, and shared her learned advice with her readers, “You can rely on yourself. Be your own advocate. Whatever you think about yourself is all that matters.

Moving to a business model – with the RI Developmental Disabilities Council

Seeing Kimmie was serious about her book, the Outsiders Collective worked with her. Carrie helped edit and finish the work, recommended she engage with the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council’s Business series, which she did and recently completed. Known for routinely helping its participants turn hobbies into viable Businesses, the RIDDC offers Business classes with the guidance of mentors and one-on-one counseling by professionals in every facet of Business, including marketing, finances, and Business start-ups. 

Kimmie learned how to publish her books on Amazon, through Stillwater Books in a webstore, and now at Barnes & Noble. The Amazon link to order her book is: https://www.amazon.com/Color-Me-Beautiful-Kimberlee-Mallett/dp/1963296036 . She also has learned about the importance of marketing –  the value of promoting her works. Carrie reviews Kimmie’s in-class lessons and plans to continue implementing marketing plans via social media to support both her artwork and book sales.

The feedback she gets on her work has fueled her creativity and desire to do another book; and several ideas are currently in the works. While there’s a second book to accompany “Color Me Beautiful,” Kimmie enthusiastically adds, “There’s another series that hasn’t been touched. There’s one that focuses on grief response, a children’s book, and another grief story with Kimmie’s personal reflections as an autistic, epileptic individual dealing with the grief of losing a father, grandmother, and others. 

Beyond publishing

Helping children is a consistent theme, transcending her publishing efforts. Referring to Friend’s Way, a local non-profit that offers bereavement support to families, Kimmie says that they once helped her, and now, with pride says, “I have become a facilitator, helping little kids with grief, and with the writing of a children’s book on that topic. One of my biggest worries was death. And that can lead to stress. And I have epilepsy.” She learned at Friend’s Way how not to worry about death, understanding that people can’t live forever. She now reasons that “even though my dad is not physically here, he’s still with me in my heart, just like everybody else is.” 

Understanding and acceptance are the main sources of inspiration for Kimmie. Whether told in person, in her book, or through collections of her art that are showcased on a wall, her art stories, and messages are filled with inspiration and therapeutic value for the author, for her readers, and taken with her for all of her encounters with others.

Reflecting on work and relationships, Kimmie keenly remembers coping with more difficult times. She senses the importance of sharing and helping others. She is stronger from her journey, and now she is both willing and able to guide others to a positive path on their journeys.  

Kimberlee Mallet Lives in Warwick, Rhode Island, and Carrie Hyde Riley/Outsider Collective is located in Pawtucket.