Meet Kimberly Garcia | Custom cake artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kimberly Garcia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kimberly, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I can’t remember a time when art and creating wasn’t part of my life. My mother has always been incredibly creative, her rough sketches were things of beauty, her stories unsurpassed. She taught me that to take something whether it is a pencil & paper, an old piece of furniture, a camera, skin, or food; then create something of beauty is cathartic. The transition into cake felt very organic, what began as a Wilton cake decorating class to learn how to stack and frost a pretty cake for fun, soon took over all of my free time and became a passion. Before I knew it I was taking more classes and watching videos learning how to manipulate butter. While I still to this day maintain a very ordinary day job that pays the bills, crafting memories for people and being trusted to take their ideas and turn them into edible art, pays my soul.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I create cake, yes that simple yet delicious treat we enjoy on birthdays and at weddings. My specialties if I had to name them would be buttercream art and hand painting. Unlike most normal humans out there I dream cake, someone will give me their ideas and from there my mind goes nuts. I may have 100 ideas that pop into my mind for how to make the next cake special but I don’t want to create something you have seen 100 times before, I want my creation to reflect that special person.

Flour + sugar + eggs + butter = cake right? Well. I suppose you could say that, as long as you aren’t concerned about how it looks. This is one of the hardest hurdles to overcome, I would never say a tattoo is simply ink and needles or a photographer simply has a camera, but in the world of edible art there are many times you have to overcome the thought that what a client pays for is simply cake. Anyone can go out and purchase the tools I use to bake a cake, but the one thing you’ll never find on the shelf of a big box store is me. I am an artist, I have studied structure, I understand the science of baking, I know what pot holes and temperature change can do to a cake. I will stay up all night to make sure that your creation is perfect, even if that means stripping things down and starting over.

I have built my business by way of word of mouth and am lucky enough to have fabulous clients that aren’t afraid to share me with their friends and family. One thing many people don’t know though is that I almost walked away. I was tired, I hadn’t yet figured out how to balance work and life, shoot I’m still working that part out sometimes, but one day we adopted a puppy and were introduced to an incredible dog rescue and training facility. Just as I was about to walk away from what I love those puppies and the humans saving them gave me a reason to keep going. I created a dessert box just for them, I say 20% of my profits are donated to their organization from the sale of said boxes, but if I’m being honest it’s closer to 80%. I love knowing that something I create can help even if it’s only a little.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would start our 1st day with a drive through Garden of the Gods on our way to Old Colorado City, where we could walk around the shops, get a delicious croissant from La Baguette, then head over to the Michael Garman gallery. After it’s just a hop and a skip to go to Manitou Springs. We can stroll through more shops, stop by the penny arcade, then hit one of the many fabulous restaurants, my favorite being the Border Burger Bar. From there we could hit the cliff dwellings or Cave of the Winds then grab a bite to eat at the Loop before heading in for the night.

Next we would head towards the Broadmoor, not only is it a beautiful hotel, but we could hike up 7 falls or head over to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Either could lead to a fabulous lunch at the Golden Bee or at one of many tasty joints the zoo has to offer. Then do what is my favorite to do in Colorado. Drive. I would head up the mountain through Woodland Park and head to Cripple Creek, if you never get out of the car it’s still a drive you will never forget, but dinner, drinks, and maybe a little slot action can always be enjoyed once you get there.

By the end of the trip we should be pretty tuckered out so a quick jaunt downtown would be a great way to wrap up. We could tour the fine arts center, the Pioneer Museum, or that gorgeous new addition the Olympic Museaum. Downtown has so much to offer, it’s the best place to find craft beer and craft food, so many incredible chefs and barkeeps have made Tejon the place to be during the day or after dark.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother had the cake class idea that got this whole adventure started, I don’t know that it’s a path I would have ever considered otherwise. Since then my husband and fabulous kids have tolerated and helped when I would still be working long after others are asleep, they have tasted more cake than any human should ever in a lifetime, helped with deliveries, & worked events with me. Without that support I could not accomplish what I do. As a child a family friend named Barbara Bartels, who is an absolutely phenomenal artist taught me so much, sketching, watercolors, acrylics, you name it, I was so blessed to have had the opportunity to learn from her. In the cake world there are more incredible artists than I could ever name that have shared techniques and tricks to help me continue to grow and continue to do so. having the opportunity to swim in that sea of sugar with these incredibly talented humans is an honor.

Website: www.giveandcakecos.com

Facebook: @giveandcakecos

Image Credits
Capture the Moment with Lee’s Magick and Witchery