Deborah L. Kelley

Deborah's tremendous passion for life and her philosophical mixed media paintings invites viewers to choose the sensual over the rational and intellectual. She recollects that she drew often as a child and felt exceptionally proud to be labeled the class artist. When writing, as in her mixed media paintings, she utilizes the media of words like paint brushes colorfully exploring her favorite subject, the unconscious mind.

Using more raw talent than training, she delights in carving out her own notch in the art world. The imagery found in her body of work tells many stories but primarily those of the artist's life. Childhood play, reflections upon personal and collective archetypes clusters of symbolic imagery find their way into her real-fiction stories, her paintings, sculptures and jewelry designs.

She has worked as a freelance artist illustrating brochures, designing greeting cards, note cards and newsletters. In 2000 she cofounded her own company Art Walls, Inc., creators of fine murals. Her art portfolio includes teaching, commercial illustration, commissioned portraits in oils, watercolors and nature spirit Sculptures.

Her love of nature and color are reflected in her work and quickly become known in her community as the local fairy artist. As a native East Tennessean, she finds it impossible to paint a flower without adding its joyful leaping or shyly hidden spirit. Most often they are wingless creatures depicting everyday scenes which the viewer might join rather than view as other-worldly or unattainable. Deborah is currently a stay-at-home grandmother, playfully mixing fantasy with the ordinary, and ever promoting the joy of simply being regardless the media.