Guest Blogger Elizabeth Kelley and the Painting Life

Exploring the Familiar

 Janet, first off I do thank you for the invitation to be a guest blogger on the ‘Painting and Musings’ blog. You have created an engaging stream of content about painting and the painting life that weaves itself into my continuous thoughts on the subject. It’s great fun for me to be a part of it!

Main Street Rooftops 111 • 20' X 18"

  Just to let your readers know, I met Janet shortly after I began painting in 2004. Since that time we have been on ‘I don’t even know how many’ painting trips and shared countless hours of painting talk. As you all know, Janet has a special blend of seeing, skill and spirit. I’m pretty darn fortunate to know her because she has been a choice painting friend and influenced my evolution as an artist.

Ascoli Rooftops  • 10.25" x 10.25"

 The majority of my painting work has linked me with the traditions of representational landscape painting in the open-air; as well as in studio work from the model and printmaking. In my most recent work I have been less faithful to what is observed. And have allowed marks that are only vaguely indicative of a visual cue.

Exploring the Familiar IV • 33" x 24"

Is this because of my naturally aging eyesight? Maybe, but it feels more like an elemental language that is developing from a long held and seemingly feral source. In these pieces I have been working less with distant landscape views and more with the close-in subject of plants and trees, thus feeling my way  

Close In • 18.25" x 18.25"

into places I have long wanted to go with paint. My sense of these incidents is visceral and raw - yet integrally solid.

   The new work began to develop in 2013 after completing an MFA in Painting at the University of New Hampshire and moving to Santa Monica, California. Differences in climate and culture began to show up on the canvas in terms of intensified color and broader marks.

Exploring the Familiar 111 • 18" x 18"

  I have been savoring my time back in Maine this summer as I continue with preparations for the Late Summer Exhibition at the Barn Gallery in Ogunquit, Maine where Janet and I will have side by side Solo Showcase exhibitions on view from August 6 to September 6, 2014.

Ascoli Hillside •  7.5" x 7.5" 

 
Elizabeth Kelley is a painter living in Santa Monica, California and Arundel, Maine.  Her wonderful art can be seen at these fine galleries in Maine:

The Barn Gallery Exhibitions and Events

Isalos Fine Art artist's page

The Landing Gallery  artist's page

and on Facebook here

Thanks, Elizabeth!

All artwork © Elizabeth Kelley 2014, all rights reserved.