- Story by Laura Langston Photography by Don Denton

When Kelly Corbett was eight years old, her mother enrolled her in art lessons. For the shy little girl, it was a big push out of her comfort zone. Unbeknown to Kelly and her mother, however, it was a push towards Kelly香蕉视频直播檚 future.

香蕉视频直播淚 was always drawing, always crafting, and Mom wanted to nurture that,香蕉视频直播� Kelly says. 香蕉视频直播淚 ended up staying with the same instructor until I was in university.香蕉视频直播�

Today, the 43-year-old Nanoose Bay artist is garnering attention for beautiful and realistic paintings featuring the stunning landscapes and wildlife of Vancouver Island and the Okanagan Valley. While her mother started her down the artistic path, it was her father who helped her foster a love for her subject matter.

香蕉视频直播淲e always went camping or hiking or boating as a family, and we still take annual week-long family kayaking trips together,香蕉视频直播� Kelly says. 香蕉视频直播淏eing in nature inspires my art.香蕉视频直播�

Born and raised in Chilliwack, Kelly originally wanted to be a marine biologist, but her distaste for chemistry and physics ruled out that career. 香蕉视频直播淪o, I decided to follow my talent.香蕉视频直播�

After graduating with a Fine Arts Diploma from University of the Fraser Valley and a Diploma of Photography from the Western Academy of Photography, Kelly became a professional photographer. She pursued that passion for the next 14 years, though she always found time to paint or draw. It wasn香蕉视频直播檛 until 2014, however, when Kelly moved to the Okanagan with her partner, Joe, that painting became the sole focus of her professional life.

Soon after arriving, Kelly went into the Lloyd Gallery in Penticton to get one of her pen-and-ink drawings framed. She mentioned she was looking for work. Impressed with the detail in her drawing and needing someone on staff who had a meticulous eye, the gallery offered her a job.

After a few months, Kelly worked up the courage to ask her boss if she could show her work in the gallery.

香蕉视频直播淪he wasn香蕉视频直播檛 sure if I could paint enough to be a gallery artist,香蕉视频直播� Kelly remembers. 香蕉视频直播淚 took that as a challenge and decided to try.香蕉视频直播�

Her boss eventually agreed to display a few of Kelly香蕉视频直播檚 pieces on the back wall near the framing area where there wasn香蕉视频直播檛 much traffic. That first year, Kelly sold 12 paintings. Spurred by her success, Kelly asked if she could display some of her work in the main part of the gallery. In the second year, Kelly sold 36 paintings.

She went on to approach a new gallery every year and she香蕉视频直播檚 now represented by six galleries, including the Mark Penny Gallery in Ucluelet, the Village Gallery in Sidney and the McMillan Arts Centre in Parksville, where she香蕉视频直播檚 also the artist in residence every Friday from 10 am until 3 pm.

Kelly香蕉视频直播檚 work has a strong sense of place. She draws deeply from her surroundings, and she especially loves Vancouver Island. She and Joe moved to Nanoose Bay in 2018, but the year prior she was on the island five times, drawn back by her love of the ocean, the big mossy trees, and her best friend in Errington.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been lucky enough to travel to many different places, but there香蕉视频直播檚 an endless amount to see at home, and I only want to explore and paint BC now,香蕉视频直播� Kelly says. 香蕉视频直播淚 am rooted here.香蕉视频直播�

Kelly paints every day. Her chosen medium is acrylic on canvas. She doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have the patience for oils (they take too long to dry) and while she started out using watercolour, she prefers acrylics because she can paint over them. Her self-described method is thin, watery layers that mimic watercolour.

The artist loves large canvases because they look so impressive. Whether it香蕉视频直播檚 large canvases of the majestic west coast, or her smaller pieces featuring quail or other BC birds, Kelly香蕉视频直播檚 attention to detail is evident in everything she paints. She has an eye for beauty and a particular talent for capturing the play of light as it dances off the water or filters through the leaves of the trees.

Passion for her art makes it easy for Kelly to go weeks without a break, particularly when the weather is poor. In the spring and summer, however, she香蕉视频直播檚 off hiking or kayaking almost every weekend, capturing interesting reference images for future paintings. She plans what she calls her adventure calendar at the beginning of every year. Telegraph Cove and Desolation Sound are on the list for 2020, as is seeing more of northern Vancouver Island in general.

Also in the works for 2020 are solo exhibitions in Parksville in February, Peachland in May and Qualicum Beach in September. And if you香蕉视频直播檙e passing through Victoria International Airport between now and mid-January, look for Kelly香蕉视频直播檚 art on display there.

Kelly has come a long way since starting art lessons all those years ago. But those early efforts aren香蕉视频直播檛 forgotten.

香蕉视频直播淢om still has paintings on her wall I did when I was 12,香蕉视频直播� Kelly says with a smile. 香蕉视频直播淎nd they香蕉视频直播檙e actually pretty good.香蕉视频直播�

For more information on Kelly Corbett香蕉视频直播檚 art, visit her website:

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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