Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Clark.
Kelly, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up in a small town on the Connecticut shoreline, loving anything that was creative. I was a horse-obsessed little girl who loved to ride and would draw horses endlessly. All over everything. Somehow drawing horses was the next best thing to being able to ride or pet one. I felt so compelled to re-create their beauty with a pencil. When I got older, I would trace Disney movie characters and eventually, I put away the tracing paper and was able to draw them freehand. Art was something I always felt good at and capable of doing better.
In high school, I went through a time of feeling completely lost. Academics were not my thing and I started to feel very alone when my friends started moving into higher level classes and talking about their future plans and career paths. I decided to take more art elective classes and started to feel very at-home in the art room. My high school art teacher, Richard Yoho, was more than a teacher. He became someone I could talk to about everything. He allowed so much room for freedom for students in his classes. At some point, I started painting and fell in love with it. I began spending all my time in the art room, every elective I had was in art and I ate my lunch there every day. My senior year, I became president of my high school National Art Honor Society. With my family’s support and Mr. Yoho’s guidance, I went on to go to Pratt Institute for illustration.
When I got to Pratt, I was suddenly a small fish in a big sea. My little hometown high school in Connecticut was very different than a school filled with artists in Brooklyn, New York. I was immersed in all kinds of foundation art classes that completely filled my schedule. The competition was fierce. During my sophomore year, I started learning how difficult life as an illustrator can be and the reality started setting in of my chosen major. After a winter internship at a catalog and marketing design agency, I decided that graphic design sounded like a much safer degree to have. I could use my creativity in a different way with a guaranteed job and always create art on the side. I graduated in 2001 and moved forward with a career as a graphic designer.
Fast forward 14 years later, after getting married and having 2 kids with a schedule full of work and Mom-responsibilities, there was suddenly little time for myself. I was feeling creatively confused, strapped to a schedule and a bit unfulfilled. I started re-thinking about what I was meant to do and decided to start painting again. I made a studio space on the 3rd floor of our house. I began freelancing instead of working full-time, to open my schedule up. I craved time to myself—to crank music and retreat into my painting-zone. The hours I spent in my studio went by so fast it felt like I entered a time-warp, which for me, was proof that this was where I was meant to be.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I like painting in oils and at times I will also paint with acrylics. I have played with mixed media paintings that include collage and transferred images as well. The art I create is constantly evolving and changing. I would love to say that I stay in one style or a focused message I try and convey when I paint. But the honest truth is, I do not. If I did, I would feel, at this point, I am limiting myself. There are so many styles I want to try. At this place in my painting path, I am just letting inspiration lead the way. For me, it’s so personal. However, when I create something I am happy with that speaks to me, and others are also pulled to it, that is the ultimate satisfaction. It feels like an unspoken understanding between the artist and the viewer.
What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
The artist-friends I have are so important in my life. We keep each other out of creative ruts when motivation is slow-moving. I have made friends with other artists by going on open-studio tours. I love seeing where people paint and being able to talk to them and exchange ideas and suggestions to each other. Another place I have connected with artists is in local art associations and leagues.
Instagram is also a great place to connect with people. Artists really appreciate people who are truly interested in their art and not just another person to add to their number of followers. I have connected with people all over the world on Instagram and have found them to be so responsive and positive.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My work is on my website, kellyclarkart.com as well as on instagram.com/kellyclarkstudio. The best way to support my work is to follow my Instagram feed.
Contact Info:
- Address: Guilford, Connecticut
- Website: kellyclarkart.com
- Email: kelly@kellyclarkart.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/kellyclarkstudio
Image Credit:
Kelly Clark
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