Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelley Batson-Howard.
Hi Kelley, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am an abstract painter who spent a lifetime in the commercial greenhouse business while secretly yearning to create and be an artist. My dreams came true in 2018 when I joined a local art collective and began my journey in the art world. I now have a studio/gallery of my own in downtown Eustis where I do rotating exhibits of my own work to those who stop in.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think the biggest challenge I’ve faced was during the Covid era when the art collective closed and I was uncertain what was next. God opened doors from that point and I was so fortunate that the landlord of the building is an art lover. He allowed me to retain my space so I had a place to work. It did limit me by not being a great place to invite the public in, but it was out of my garage, so I was very grateful. I continued to enter local exhibitions and began widening the circle towards Orlando, Ormond Beach, Daytona, New Smyrna, Ocala to get my work seen even during a time of shut down.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My abstract acrylic work is highly influenced by my years in the greenhouse business and years of boating. I was surrounded by layers of colors and textures that now land themselves onto my canvas. I use heavy acrylic mediums to create textures and operate from an intuitive place to see what happens when I add layer upon layer of color to them. It often surprises even me. I love the intuitive nature of it all and playing in textures is really my thing.
I am proud that those works have now grown to a large number since the inspiration hit me to do them and I am proud they are now recognized as being mine even without a signature.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was the first grandchild on both sides of the family so you know I was spoiled. I was spoiled, but also given many adult responsibilities at a young age because mine was an entrepreneurial family and family business was everywhere in my childhood. I was running a register and assisting customers at the early age of six. I was driving a car by the time I was 10 or 11 years old. My Mom worked outside the home, so I learned to prepare family meals at an early age. Business and work was always around me. It taught me to have a strong work ethic and how things work in the world. It taught me responsibility. It also came with a good dose of rebellion too- not to the point of getting in trouble, but to the point it made me head strong. Some days that is bad and some days it is good. One thing is for certain, if I decide to do something, I don’t quit until it happens. I think that benefits me in the art world since it is a world of constant rejection. My childhood taught me to keep going anyway.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kbatsonart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbatsonart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kbatsonartwork.com
