Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Merriman.
Kelly, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Born and raised in Vermont, I was always very interested in art, especially drawing, and expanded my awareness of, and practice with, various mediums during my teen years and had hoped to make art a career. As life does, however, mine took many twists and turns over the years. I was fortunate to be able to travel quite often and to work and live in a variety of places across the country, in addition to living in Europe for a couple of years. During that time, however, I’d somehow lost touch with my art.
Now, in my late 40s, having put down roots in Texas for the past 16 years, and raising my amazing son here, I’ve reconnected with my artistic soul and have devoted more and more time to creating expanding my skills, practicing with a broad range of mediums, and to creating new pieces.
Art is a true passion for me, and I enjoy the development of new pieces, sharing them with others, as well as taking on commissioned work to create individual unique works for my clients to enjoy.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do? Why? And what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I originally focused much of my work on pencil sketches; however, I’ve found painting to be my area of greatest passion. I enjoy acrylics, watercolors, and oils for most of my work.
I love to experiment with mediums and like to make each piece unique. Painting on paper, canvas, wood, even leather shoes, has helped me to further develop as an artist and I enjoy every moment.
Whether I create something for me to share, or a custom commissioned work for a client, I want people to enjoy what they see and to take away something memorable from it. When I hear others discussing my work and sharing their thoughts with friends, I know that I’ve created something impactful. When a client takes delivery of a piece, the excitement that I see from them fuels my passion to create even more art.
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
My advice for other artists would be to keep expanding your skills and pushing your perceived boundaries. As a new artist, it is often difficult to keep your confidence up, and you may end up second guessing or holding back in your work. I’d say that you should create for you first, enjoy what you do, and share it with the world. Some of the pieces I’ve been least confident about and second-guessed the final work have had the greatest response from others.
I wish that I’d learned earlier to take time and make time, to create every day. Always keep that connection with your artistic soul no matter where life takes you.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
The public can currently view much of my work on Instagram @norwichu06, and I also exhibit my pieces in local art shows and sales.
I love to share my art with others and appreciate all of the support that I receive from friends, family, and clients, as well as from people that enjoy the work of local artists.
I’m always seeking new clients and having them purchase works I’ve already completed, or commissioning me to create new personal pieces for them, helps me to continue along my artistic path.
Contact Info:
- Email: merrimankj@gmail.com
- Instagram: Www.instagram.com/norwichu06
Image Credit:
Kelly Merriman
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