Photos Courtesy of Kellie Delaney
Kellie Delaney is a Central Florida-based artist who specializes in acrylic paint and digital art. On one hand, Delaney’s known for painting charming portraits of furry friends. But on the other hand, moments from iconic fictional characters are a common theme that permeates her art. And we can’t forget her special dash of spookiness, of course, perfect for welcoming the Halloween season.
Nonahood News: Tell us a little about your artistic background. What drove you to become an artist?
Kellie Delaney: I watched a lot of Bob Ross as a kid and was always drawing or crafting. My art teacher in high school, Ms. Souve, really drove me to want to become an artist. She is such a talented, lovely and brutally honest person. Souve always went above and beyond, making sure we had top-of-the-line supplies and plenty of opportunities to get into shows. She was definitely the best teacher I ever had.
NHN: When did you realize creating art was your passion?
KD: I didn’t do a lot of art for a long time. I went to school for pastry, hoping to translate art into cakes. The last 10 years, I worked in restaurants and bakeries. Most of those years were spent doing plated desserts but, eventually, wedding cakes. I was painting in the evenings when commissions began to roll in for pet portraits and other art. I loved it so much. Over the years, it picked up, and when my daughter was born, I decided to pursue art full-time while also getting to be home with her. I have been so happy.
NHN: How often do you find yourself creating art?
KD: I create almost every day, whether it’s to keep up with commissions or work on a personal piece. Recently, I have been dabbling in digital art and have several projects going with that.
NHN: How long did it take you to discover your artistic style? Which mediums do you use in your work?
KD: I didn’t really have a “style” until a few years ago. Honestly, I was all over the place trying to figure it out. I kept thinking I should do more realism but always found myself adding bright colors and heavy outlines, the finished products looking more cartoony. I almost exclusively use acrylic paint; it’s been a long time since I have used anything else.
NHN: Which of your projects were the most challenging and why?
KD: Hands. Hands and bodies in weird positions. Hands will be the death of me, though.
NHN: Which of your projects were your favorite to create?
KD: I love faces, any face really. I do a lot of pet portraits, and those are fun. Horror and fantasy portraits are by far my favorite, though.
NHN: Which artists have inspired you on your artistic journey? What inspires you on a day-to–day basis?
KD: There’s really too many to name. Movies and books are my biggest inspiration. I find myself overly-invested in fictional characters. Escape from reality, if you will.
NHN: Future goals/plans?
KD: I would love to be a part of more art shows and, potentially, murals. I also hope to venture into book covers.
To keep up with Kellie Delaney, find her on Instagram and Facebook @KellieDelaneyArt or www.kelliedelaneyart.com. To check out some of her pet portraits, visit @KellieDelaneyPortraits on Instagram.
