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Meet Kim Wagner-Hemmes of Working Purple Enterprises in West Valley

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Wagner-Hemmes.

Kim, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
They say you never forget your first love, and for me, that was photography. Growing up an only child, I often relied upon it as a surrogate sibling. Starting with the Kodak Instamatic 110 I received in the second grade. The camera lens soon became an extension of my imagination. Teaching me how to appreciate the little things in life that are often taken for granted.

Born and raised in Chicago, I was exposed to “the arts” in all its splendid forms on a regular basis. What inspired my move to the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area then was my passion for reptiles, getting more in touch with nature, its cost-efficiency when compared with other big cities, change of climate, new creative possibilities, and a fresh start. Little did I know I would find even more to like about the Southwest than I ever imagined.

Why did I choose “Working Purple” for my company name? Besides representing the characteristics of healing, transformation, and balance; purple also happens to be my favorite color. All of these things have been reoccurring themes on my road to recovery from thyroid cancer in 2013. Getting my health back on track is what brought me out of the “creative shell” I had crawled into, and gave me the courage to put myself out there once more.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
A semester before having earned enough credits to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Photography, I found I had fallen in love with the City of Dublin in Ireland; where I had lived the previous few months. Dropping out of college to work full time and save enough money to move back for a longer stay, I ended up being laid off from my job the following year. Not to mention an Irish postal strike that summer, which caused the envelope containing my official job offer to be delayed by a month. When I called, they said they had already moved on with another candidate.

After working at a number of unfulfilling jobs, I went back to school and ended up pursuing a different course of study in the History of Architecture and Art. Inspired by a summer-long internship at the Chicago Historical Society my senior year, I suddenly faced the challenge of applying to graduate schools when I hadn’t been the most serious of students during my undergraduate years. Long story short, my academic advisor believed in me despite my grades and helped me get into a Master of Arts program in Art History. There I worked hard to prove myself, and it paid off; at least for a little while.

A few years later, I arrived in Arizona on 9/5/2001; less than one week before the 9/11 attacks occurred. The early years here were a struggle for me in both the career and social areas of my life. It was an uphill battle trying to make ends meet, my marriage fell apart, and my health started to suffer. In the end, though, it forced me to grow into an even better version of myself.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Working Purple Enterprises – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
At Working Purple Enterprises, I divide my time between the visual arts and writing. The visual arts include photography, videography, and mixed media painting and assemblage. Writing involves both creative and professional services.

Some of the professional writing services I offer are biographies, blogging, press releases, resumes and cover letters, and social media profiles. Each job is personalized to fit the individual needs of the client, so they are completely satisfied with the end result. I also write freelance articles for both print and web copy.

A few of the visual arts services I offer are the design and layout of social media ads, 1 to 2-minute video commercials for social media, and an assortment of products to give as gifts or treat yourself. Besides the aforementioned services, I am working on the second draft of my novel, which I intend to finish by year’s end if not sooner. My other goal is to have my first solo art exhibit next year, and I am busy creating new pieces to add to my portfolio every week. This is in addition to submitting to local and out-of-state galleries for current shows.

I also work part-time as an independent contractor for a wonderful company called Art Brokerage. However, that’s a story entirely unto itself for another time (http://www.artbrokerage.com).

Is there a quality or characteristic that has played an outsized role in your success?
My education, training, experience, independence, flexibility, determination, imagination, attention to detail, and choosing quality over quantity are some of the key attributes that have gotten me to this point. As a self-employed small business owner and independent contractor, they are the foundation for my overall success.

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