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MY INSPIRATION
A lot of simple day to day things inspire me. I love California. I love the outdoors. I love history. I love old things. I collect things. I love discovering things. I always find useful ways to repurpose things. Those are inspirations in my work. I grew up in Sonoma County, but I've spent the majority of my life working in the Bay Area. I've always loved painting and drawing and naturally it led me to discover my passion for printmaking.
As a child, my parents were skilled artisans. I grew up with a family wood shop and lived in a geodesic dome that my Dad built up around us. We moved from room to room as the walls were completed. It made life very interesting. There were always a lot of books and animals and plants around me. My parents have this way of saying I was born busy which has been both a blessing and a curse. I believe I have my Dad's entrepreneurial spirit, and my Mom's attention to detail. I've been designing and crafting my own creative projects as far back as I can remember to blink. My journey is constantly changing as I explore new mediums and techniques within my work. I believe in lifelong learning, and my best inspiration is usually what is right in front of me, always within reach.
ABOUT KELLY
Kelly is a Northern California Bay Area visual artist. She is a multidisciplinary printmaker with a natural curiosity for combining traditional print methods with an experimental mixed media approach.
Kelly holds a BA in from San Francisco State University and an AA degree in Studio Art with emphasis in Printmaking from Diablo Valley College. She has worked as a teaching assistant and studio monitor under the guided mentorship of Toru Sugita, Professor of Printmaking, since 2019.
Since 2020, Kelly has been an Artist in Residence with the Sonoma Community Center. She now works as an instructor and a Studio Coordinator in the Sonoma Community Print Studio. Kelly is also a Teaching Artist throughout Sonoma County and the Bay Area where she enjoys teaching beginning printmaking workshops to youth and adults. She serves on the Board of Directors of the California Society of Printmakers.
My Heritage
Gum Moon Girls - A Tribute
My Asian American Chinese cultural heritage is an influence in my work. I feel very fortunate to have learned more about my great-grandmother Maud Lai Don in recent years.
Read more about this special etching project I completed shortly before the pandemic.
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