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Lake Wisconsin where she works full
time as a watercolorist.
Her primary inspiration is the
community of Elkhart Lake. The
overwhelming support has continued to
motivate Kelly to capute in her
paintings the love of Elkhart Lake and
the people who reside there.
member of
no camara this time...
thanks Zac
"Kelly...why cars?
where I envied my inabilities to achieve soulful paths. Through the painting I could
relish in my passions, explore and understand these objects, and obtain my love for
them. A door opened.
Living in Elkhart Lake, I observed those who embraced the inanimate objects of
vehicles. Again, my thirst to understand and know, I painted the Harley. While
painting this, I noticed images reflecting so vividly- something I never took the time
to see. There was something in me that responded...but, still my thirst was never
satisfied.
There was a late model 30s truck that drove through Elkhart daily. What now is a
very common site...my camera in my hand, I began to capture the world on the
vehicle. Never at that time did I have any great desire to see what the camera
revealed . The film was casually put aside.
Eventually the film was developed. I recall a red pick-up with pitch black fenders. I
was astonished when observing and studying the photographs...the fenders were
void of any indications of black. What I saw was the sky, the blue sky coming
down and hugging the fenders like a bias cut dress would do on a woman. The
clouds bent and formed to every curve on the fender revealing its true form.
Naturally the truck became a painting, never putting any black on the fenders.
What I painted was the sky becoming part of this object. My curiousity grew.
It was Sarah Botham who came across my paintings one saturday morning,
wondering, "Why are you not painting cars?"
I knew my work was good, but the 'automobile' art belonged to a father who also
sold his work locally. I honored that.
Sarah really put her foot down upon her next visit to Elkhart Lake. She offered me
a one person show at the annual Botham Vineyards Vintage Car Show. I really did
want to paint automobiles, the subject matter fascinated me, and being that the
show was not in Elkhart Lake, I agreed.
What a revealing winter that was. The more I painted cars, the more I came alive.
When I paint, I never actually see the object. I work very close to the paper with a
#2 sable. When working this close and tight, I see shapes and geometrical
images..and mimic them with paint onto the paper. I go away, the world ceases to
exist as these forms begin to touch and come to life. If, at this time, you walk in on
me, your not there. (as many soon discover after you walk into my gallery- you
know who you are..lol) I often go outside and pace, just release myself from the
painting. The painting, upon my return, reveals the image. Lights bouncing and
bending, forms taking shape. I see what you see, the automobile enthusiasts, and
I love an admire it.
My passion grows everyday. The vintage and racing automobiles, embedded
within me, has become a focus. As with my early work, "do what you can do, and
dont envy what you cant". Cars and owners- I see it now. You grow together as
one. It is not just the form, look, and shape. Much more! When I heard the 66
winning GT40 driving into the Botham Vineyards, when I go to the track, there is a
distinct smell in the air, an unmistakable sound. When a car is so in tune to needing
to go faster, it talks to you...you hear it. In your attention to your car..your union,
your bond...you bleed on it..you listen to it...your sense of smell tells you how to
care for it.
I found something in me...no longer envy..I do what I do out of passion and love.
"Kelly, stop working so hard!" LMAO "You call this work?" I have such an
overwhelming desire, its hard to contain. I caught myself crying when I was
photographing the GT40, a Jag 120 XK, a Cunningham. These have become much
more to me than just cars.
and to reveal why Im so dang tired
My Boys personal page
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