Artist Bio
Kelly Welch is a classically trained, contemporary American Painter, blending the worlds of Classical Realism and Impressionism. Born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, Kelly's love of the land shows in her passionate and atmospheric depictions of rural life in the mountains. Working in both oil and pastel, her greatest challenge and pleasure is painting landscape and portraits from life.
"Painting is for me something like joy, a desire for something fantastic and eternal, which I have not yet seen, yet my spirit testifies is true."
Having studied engineering in college, the yearning to paint finally overcame and she decided to pursue fine art. She spent many years studying with artists from across the country, developing a quickly recognized style of loose, painterly landscapes. However it was after studying at the Art Atelier in Asheville, NC, that she returned to her love of drawing. "Drawing became my primary language once again, the foundation for all painting from the first stroke to the last."
Her goal is to honor life as it is, and to not lift up her own ideas above this glory of nature. To honor nature - let nature be the first and last thought in her work is her goal. In addition to enjoying small alla prima studies of nature on location, her work also includes paintings that can take days or even weeks to finish - as long as the subject or season will allow until nature is represented with as little trace of acculturation as possible. "It is my wish that eventually no trace of me will be seen in my work - only a testament of the beauty I was privileged to witness." The plein air painter, Linda Cheek, says of her work, "For years, Kelly has participated in the tradition of plein air painting. With this experience, her ability to use color and light more effectively has gained her the confidence to capture in her paintings the true characteristics of the scene."
Some of her awards include; 2004, she was juried "Signature Member" of the Western North Carolina Plein Aire Painters, 2005 she won "Best of Show" at the Montford Arts Festival and most recently 2007 "Best of Show" in the Appalachian Pastel Society's Annual juried show.
