- 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害羞草研究所檚 future.

害羞草研究所淚 was always drawing, always crafting, and Mom wanted to nurture that,害羞草研究所� Kelly says. 害羞草研究所淚 ended up staying with the same instructor until I was in university.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淲e always went camping or hiking or boating as a family, and we still take annual week-long family kayaking trips together,害羞草研究所� Kelly says. 害羞草研究所淏eing in nature inspires my art.害羞草研究所�

Born and raised in Chilliwack, Kelly originally wanted to be a marine biologist, but her distaste for chemistry and physics ruled out that career. 害羞草研究所淪o, I decided to follow my talent.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檛 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.

害羞草研究所淪he wasn害羞草研究所檛 sure if I could paint enough to be a gallery artist,害羞草研究所� Kelly remembers. 害羞草研究所淚 took that as a challenge and decided to try.害羞草研究所�

Her boss eventually agreed to display a few of Kelly害羞草研究所檚 pieces on the back wall near the framing area where there wasn害羞草研究所檛 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害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 also the artist in residence every Friday from 10 am until 3 pm.

Kelly害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been lucky enough to travel to many different places, but there害羞草研究所檚 an endless amount to see at home, and I only want to explore and paint BC now,害羞草研究所� Kelly says. 害羞草研究所淚 am rooted here.害羞草研究所�

Kelly paints every day. Her chosen medium is acrylic on canvas. She doesn害羞草研究所檛 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害羞草研究所檚 large canvases of the majestic west coast, or her smaller pieces featuring quail or other BC birds, Kelly害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檙e passing through Victoria International Airport between now and mid-January, look for Kelly害羞草研究所檚 art on display there.

Kelly has come a long way since starting art lessons all those years ago. But those early efforts aren害羞草研究所檛 forgotten.

害羞草研究所淢om still has paintings on her wall I did when I was 12,害羞草研究所� Kelly says with a smile. 害羞草研究所淎nd they害羞草研究所檙e actually pretty good.害羞草研究所�

For more information on Kelly Corbett害羞草研究所檚 art, visit her website:

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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