HE BORE OUR SORROWS

Kelly is an American Representational Painter with a varied and expansive artistic background. Born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina, she began working as an illustrator while still in high school. In her early 20’s, she was part of a group of plein air painters in the Asheville area, a group which later founded the Western North Carolina Plein Air Painters, of which she became a Signature Member.

From 2005 to 2008, she attended The Art Atelier in the up and coming River Arts District in Asheville. She studied Classical Drawing and Picturemaking following in the tradition of The French School and The Impressionists. This rich artistic heritage stemmed from Charles Gleyre in the early 1800’s, (whose students included Renoir, Monet and Whistler), William McGregor Paxton and RH Ives Gammell. These years consisted of study from life in charcoal to develop the eye, and acquire an understanding of form, drawing and value, culminating in oil painting.

She uses elements from the landscape with it’s flora and fauna to compose beautiful and imaginative paintings and portraits. She wishes to inspire the viewer with the admonition, “Whatever is beautiful … think on these things.”