Instructor Spotlight: Kim Stone

Since she started leading classes at York Art Association in the fall of 2023, Kim Stone has quickly become a vibrant part of the YAA teaching family.

A skilled pastel artist (Kim won Best of Show in our 2025 Spring Members’ Exhibition) with a deep background in both fine art and graphic design, Kim brings decades of experience – and infectious enthusiasm – to the classroom.

Kim’s classes invite students to explore the power of underpainting and expressive mark-making using soft pastels.

Her own journey with pastels began during her time at the York Academy of Art, where she was introduced to the medium by artist and instructor Virgil Sova. She studied under other accomplished instructors there, as well.

“I studied painting with the remarkable Maya Schock, who later started the Doshi Gallery,” she says, and “Ted Fitski and Tom Wise taught portraiture and anatomy.”

While she pursued a professional career in graphic design and illustration after graduation, her passion for fine art remained, eventually leading her back into the studio for workshops with famous pastel painters such as Richard McKinley and Margaret Dyer, and later into the classroom as a teacher.

She taught portraiture with live models at the Art Association of Harrisburg for 15 years. After retiring from employment with the State Museum of Pennsylvania, she began to teach drawing classes at the Carlisle Arts Learning Center, which is still ongoing. Her approach centers around connection, creativity, and the joy of seeing students discover something new.

“I love to inspire the joy of creating art in others,” she says. “My favorite is when I help a student solve a problem and they comment that I’ve taught them something new.”

Though still relatively new to YAA, Kim says she felt part of the family from day one, finding a welcoming community of like-minded people here.

“Everyone gives and shares with each other and that's how we learn new things,” she says. She treasures the camaraderie and collaboration that naturally emerge in the classroom and is especially energized by her returning students.

Looking ahead, Kim is excited to be part of YAA’s new chapter in a fresh location and hopes more people in the community take notice of the artistic treasure that is York Art Association.

“I hope the community realizes what a gem they have in such a welcoming place to learn and be enriched by art,” she says. “I would say to anyone interested but hesitant, try us out—you will surprise yourself!”

As she continues to grow her class and spread the good word about the pastel medium, Kim remains grateful for the opportunity to be part of the YAA community: “I’m very flattered to be asked to teach at such a great organization.”