An Interview with Kim Koehler
When Lori and I were planning for The Analog Life Project, we talked about inviting guest posts and interviewing other artists. I immediately thought of Kim. Her perspective of Looking for the Magic and finding wonder in the Tiny Things felt like a perfect fit for encouraging savoring an analog life. It wasn’t until I sat down to work on her questions that I realized my first encounter with Kim was analog – in the pages of UPPERCASE Magazine (you can get a glimpse of her piece in Janine’s flip-through. She’s on page 88).Even more fitting!
I thought Valentine’s Day would be fun for our first interview, celebrating the joy of friendship, kindred spirits and inspiration. Now, go grab a cozy drink and settle down to enjoy our chat.
AB: Thank you, Kim, for joining us today. So glad to have you here. Can you tell us a bit about who you are and what you do?
KK: I’m a nature-inspired artist. I create botanical artwork that I license and sell through my online shop. I also write a monthly newsletter, Looking for the Magic, where I share a monthly Nature Almanac, my creative practice, and post about all the tiny things that delight me.
I believe nature is the best free therapy. My work is an invitation to step outside, slow down, and reconnect with our intuition. In a hustle-driven culture of constant consumption, we’ve drifted far from our inner knowing – and from one another. Technology has sped us up, often at the cost of presence and connection.
Through my art, I hope to spark wonder and open conversations about what truly makes us feel alive. My Tiny Things series is a reminder that a meaningful life isn’t built from money or productivity, but from the moments we allow ourselves to experience.
AB: What drew you to The Analog Life Project?
KK: I’m Gen X. I grew up with a boombox, making my own mixtapes and waiting for my favorite magazines to arrive in the mail. I got lost in books and felt a real sense of sadness when one ended.
These days, I find it harder to move slowly. It’s increasingly difficult to pick up a book when my phone is nearby. I’ll reach for it to look up a single name, and suddenly twenty minutes have passed on Instagram – without it being a conscious choice. My fingers just know where to go.
AB: So many of us can relate to that! One of the things that’s so appealing about the project is being able to imagine life without those distractions. Can you describe your ideal analog day?
KK: I wake slowly – pour-over coffee, a lit candle, one poem. I pull a Tarot card, write a single page in my journal, stretch, then walk my dog while watching for the morning moon. Back home, I share a homemade breakfast with my husband.
The first two hours of my day belong to creativity: sketchbooks, art books, and a small notebook I carry everywhere, filling with phrases inspired by what I notice outside. Lunch is made from scratch, music playing, vinyl spinning – I’m trying not to mind having to flip them often.
In the afternoon, I pick up my daughter. We share tea and snacks, sit at the table, and make things together – sewing, embroidery, yarn in our favorite colors. We get lost in the making. There is nothing that compares to creating things with your hands.
AB: Sounds perfect to me.
What comes most easily for you when it comes to living an analog life? And on the flip side, what’s your biggest challenge?
KK: I love cracking open a sketchbook. My art supplies delight me. There is a lack of control when you work with art supplies. Mistakes happen, and you can’t easily undo them. I always tell myself I can’t stop until there is one thing I like about it. I think that is where the magic happens.
My home could become a mini lending library. Every room is filled with bookshelves. We have always been big fans of the library as well. I love holding a book, even if I only read parts of it. Books are magic.
My biggest challenge is wasting too much time online. I built my art business on social media. I spend a significant amount of time creating content for it. So when I take a break, it is not easy to transition to analog.
AB: In Lori’s workbook she encourages us to plan field trips and discover unusual and fun analog things to do. Can you tell us about any analog adventures you’re planning or dreaming about?
KK: I’m a total botanical garden junkie – I go every week. I’m always on the lookout for art events and new outdoor places to explore. This February, I’m attending Plant Con, which is basically Comic Con for plant lovers, and I could not be more excited.
I’m also saying yes to more real-world experiences. I started attending in-person Creative Mornings events here in Los Angeles. I joined their in-person field trips, and it connected me with so many wonderful creatives.
AB: All of those analog adventures are sure to energize and inspire you. Let’s go back to books for a moment (one of my favorite things, too!). What’s the best book you’ve read recently and why did it resonate with you?
KK: The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl.
Her writing made me feel deeply seen. I’m endlessly fascinated by nature and notice something new daily, and experiencing it through her eyes made me laugh out loud. It’s a perfect reminder of how much wonder surrounds us – and how intoxicating life can be when we slow down and really look.
AB: Oooh, yes, that was a wonderful book. I also enjoyed the art throughout the book created by her brother. Which brings me to another art-related question. You mentioned loving sketchbooks. I love them too and am always curious about other artists’ sketchbook practices. Can you tell us a bit about how you use yours? How do you stay inspired and keep up with your practice when life gets busy?
KK: I have so many sketchbooks. I love collecting them, cracking a new one open, and the satisfaction of finishing one. I truly believe nothing helps an artist feel more connected to themselves than a regular sketchbook practice.
My secret is keeping it small. I use 4” × 4” sketchbooks – they’re inviting and fun, not intimidating. A large blank page can feel like a barrier, but a small one makes it easy to show up, even on the busiest days.
AB: Isn’t it fun that there are so many different types (and sizes!) of sketchbooks. What about journals? Do you also keep a journal? If so, what’s your journaling routine?
KK: I’d love to say I journal daily, but I don’t. Instead, I keep a special journal for moments of inspiration – when something moves me, and I want to remember it. I used to journal mainly to vent, now I journal to inspire. I think both have their place.
Over time, I’ve learned that what we focus on grows. So, I try not to dwell on fear or disappointment. I want to keep my energy on the things that are unfolding in my life and lighting me up.
AB: Beautiful. And speaking of focusing on what lights us up, in January you launched the Field Guide on Substack. Can you tell us a bit about it and the story behind it?
KK: I find myself in conversations all the time with people who feel deeply dissatisfied with their work. Many don’t make space for the things they love – and some have forgotten what those things even are. I can relate. There was a time in my life when I felt the same way.
In 2021, I felt bored and disconnected, unexcited to wake up in the morning. It felt like I had let go of my dreams, or maybe lost sight of them entirely. I granted myself the time and space to explore what was next.
That experience led directly to The Field Guide to You. The idea behind it is simple: the things that light us up never truly disappear – we just bury them under responsibility and obligation. The Field Guide is an invitation to unearth those parts of yourself. Together, we create a small journal. I offer prompts and personal stories designed to help people reconnect with what feels meaningful again.
You don’t need a dream job or a perfect life. You just need to rediscover the place inside yourself that feels like home – and grant yourself time to indulge it.
A 30-day free trial is available for anyone who wants to join in.
AB: What a gift.
Thank you, again, Kim for all of the inspiration.
All photos in this post ©Kim Koehler
I hope you enjoyed our interview. Now I’m even more convinced Kim’s a kindred spirit (they’re not so scarce, are they). Be sure to drop in on Kim’s Substack, try out the Field Guide and take a look at her shop, too.
Thanks for joining us. I’d love to hear your thoughts on analog living, books, sketchbooks and anything else you’d like to share. 💚
