Today we’d like to introduce you to Tammy Keller.
Hi Tammy, 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 have always been a creative. Even from an 3 year old toddler, I would spend hours coloring in coloring books while my mom was taking care of my infant brother. I loved every thing creative and tried whatever I could throughout the years of growing up. I spent my own money on art supplies, and would spend the day painting or coloring in my room. I always loved intereior design and even draw homes and home designs. As a gifted girl, I was expected by my parents to go to college and get a “real” degree, leaving art as my hobby. I attended pharmacy school and practiced pharmacy for many years, but was always doing any kind of art or craft that I could. When I was married, my creativity came out in home renovation projects and redesigning my spaces. As a mom, I stayed home to be with my kids and started more formal art classes at night at the Cincinnati Art Academy in painting and figure drawing. With a relocation to Naples, Florida in 2005, my classes became more intensive at the Centers of the Arts in Bonita Springs. But things really shifted in 2013, when I realized that my whole reason for painting in the first place was not about the thing I was painting, but became more about the colors that I got to play with during the process. The process was the thing!!
That was the beginning of my obsession with abstract expressionism. I didn’t even know there was a thing, but I was soon taking workshops with successful painters to learn this new type of seeing and creating. This when I learned to let go of myself and trust the process of my own internal voice coming out onto the canvas. After years of daily painting, attending workshops, and traveling to artist residencies, my own voice was born. I was able to actual produce work that looked like me on the inside. And that’s when I realized that the painting process was for me, but that the actual paintings were for others to decorate their homes with. And then the business of art began for me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This has not been a smooth road by any means. Following my passion was not necessarily what those around me wanted. I received resistance from those in my life that wanted my time spent in other ways. But I had to listen to the voice that was within wanting me to continue. I eventually went through an unexpected divorce after a 25 year marriage, and was so thankful that I had my art to pull me through. I’ve lost others along with way, but have never looked back. The paintings need to be made. The art has to come out, and living in any other way would be living an unauthentic life.
I’m happy to say that I am remarried to the most amazing man who supports me and my work in every way. I have new friends that love what I do. And our children are some of my best cheerleaders and supporters.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an abstract expressionist. I use my intuition to create artwork by building layers upon layers of paint and other mark making materials to produce dynamic, colorful art pieces. I use many different art supplies within each painting, including graphite, chalk pastels, oil pastels, artist crayons, and acrylic inks. I build up texture with different paint applications and create a dynamic history within each piece. My final paintings have depth to them that is created throughout this process. The paintings vary in sizes, but the larger sizes are my favorite. I think I just have too much to say in each piece. The idea of creating something that never existed before except for in my mind is so incredible to me and keeps me motivated to paint each day. My process includes a lot of play and experimentation. Even if I have an idea in mind when I start a painting, I will shift my focus in the middle of the process if something exciting happens. I don’t usually have much of an idea what a painting is going to come out to look like when I start the process. But I know a piece is done when I feel that the painting is satisfied and nothing needs to be changed or added. Its definitely something that I just know in my soul, and is a very hard process to teach or explain. The paintings are informed by my life experiences and color preferences, which includes the beautiful blues of the Florida Gulf waters where I spend my free time with my family.
I am most proud of the fact that I have hung in there for many years of perfecting my craft with little to no recognition. In the last 5 years, I have won some great awards, become a regular part of a downtown Sarasota gallery, participated in outdoor art festivals, and am doing commissioned custom pieces for clients. It’s so exciting to see my paintings paired in really amazing interior designs. I truly for the first time in my life feel that I am doing in my art exactly what I was created to do. And that is a fact that I will never take for granted!!
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
When becoming a recovering perfectionist and moving to abstract art, I had no idea where to start. I was given the advice to find a painter that paints in a style that you like and learn from them. My first art mentor came from the Center of the Arts Bonita Springs. I took many art workshops with her, as well as other visiting artists into the area. I then traveled to other artist workshops to sit under artists that I admired. Each artist has had great advice and taught me some valuable lessons. I also then had to find art business mentors to teach me the business of art. While not as fun, those lessons have been so important for moving my business to the next levels. There are so many great art business mentors online, and they all have great things to teach you. The key to all of this is to find the parts that feel right to you and to keep pushing forward to find your way. Also, as the path becomes clearer, you have to have the courage to step onto it even if you not sure where it will lead.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tammykellerart.com
- Instagram: @tammykellerart
- Facebook: Tammykellerart
