We are thrilled to have Kelly Edelman featured in our current Artist Spotlight!
ARTIST STATEMENT
As an artist, I am interested in creating work that connects the audience to the subject through color and emotion. I am influenced by expressive portraiture and love to inspire others through various creative mediums. Most of my works are illustrations created using Copic markers and watercolor, however some are on canvas using acrylic or oil paint.
Through the creative process I am able to evolve into a higher expression of myself and this is the main motivating factor behind the creation of my work. I focus on creating positive works of art that uplift and inspire, as I feel the creation and appreciation of art is transformative in nature.
WHEN DID YOU BEGIN MAKING ART?
I started to draw once I could hold a pencil. My grandma (also an artist) loved to draw with me and my sister, so I fell in love with it at a young age. Once I was in highschool, I started painting landscapes, and eventually started doing portraiture and illustrations after college.
WHAT DOES YOUR WORK AIM TO SAY?
Art connects people, and my artwork connects people through the color, subject, and movement expressed in my portraits. I focus on drawing iconic women from American culture and value representing women through portraiture in modern art.
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES?
I am influenced by Pop Art and Modern Impressionism. I love to introduce bold colors when creating my artwork and often use popular female icons as the main subject in my portraits.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Female cultural icons, portraiture, and expressive color combinations. I love to transform a popular black and white photo into a vibrant work of art. It’s fun to put a refreshing, new spin on modern photography and turn popular photos into colorful illustrations.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF ARTWORK THAT YOU’VE CREATED?
My illustration titled “Silly” has the subject with her sunglasses on and her tongue sticking out. I like it because it’s a nice reminder to not take life so seriously and enjoy each moment in a lighthearted way. This artwork reminds me of a face my grandma would make at me when I was a kid to get me to laugh, and for some reason, it’s always reminded me of her playful nature.
HOW DO YOU WORK? WHEN DO YOU FEEL MOST CREATIVE?
I work mostly at night and often wake up early in the morning to finish up the final details of an illustration. I feel I’m most creative around 5:00AM and after waking up from a dream.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ARTIST TOOL? IS THERE SOMETHING YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT IN YOUR STUDIO?
Probably my Copic markers and my music. I can’t create without great music or inspirational speakers playing in the background!
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN A WORK IS FINISHED?
Each work is already finished before I have started it. I complete them first in my imagination and then I produce it in real life. But before I begin any work of art, I have already completed it in my mind. So once the artwork looks in real life how I pictured it, it is done.
WHAT’S YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT?
I used to teach painting classes at Wine and Canvas. In the middle of teaching to a class of 50, I accidentally knocked over my example painting onto a guest, getting wet paint everywhere! I had to restart the work from scratch while the class waited.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO AN ARTIST JUST STARTING OUT?
Just have fun with it! As long as you’re doing that, you’re doing it right!
Thanks, Kelly! Come check out her art on display through June.
We are open Friday 5PM – 8PM, Saturday 4PM – 7PM, and Sunday 1PM – 4PM.
Interested in being in our Artist Spotlight? Send us your work!
We are looking for 2D and 3D artists to feature a selection of their work on a 3-month rotation.
Check out previous Artists here!