Blogs from Around the World - Kelly Berkey

Well I am so excited to unveil my latest project. The blogging world has connected me to so many wonderful and inspiring people and it got to the point where I wanted to share the love. So here it is....my Blogs From Around the World, in which each month I will be featuring a blogger who inspires me. Bloggers who I can't wait to read their posts and see what they have painted, drawn, been up to or anything else.

So without further ado, please grab a cuppa, a favourite biccie and read all about the wonderful Kelly Berkey, who I may say, radiates sunshine even when she is not feeling it!

Oh and by way of a coincidence, it's her birthday today too....so Happy Birthday Kelly.

Courage

How did you get into making jewellery?
When my son moved out to attend college, I was a lost soul. My hubby kept hinting to me to find a hobby, then gave me Sally Jean's book, 'Pretty Little Things'. I was hooked!!

If there is one thing you learnt in 2010, what would it be?
To trust in myself as an artist. To stop reading other's blogs and comparing myself. Once I put myself on a 'computer diet' and spent more time just playing in my studio, I really began to improve in my skill and began believing in myself as an artist.

How do you plan your workload alongside your part-time real job, your busy life and your marriage etc?
Well, I say on my blog that my job is 'part-time' even though it's a regular 40hr a week job because when I was self-employed, I worked twice as many hours. So I like to think of myself as a full-time artist, with a part-time day job. Kind of a spin, don't you think? But life is all about our perceptions, and I like to think I'm a full-time artist. So, thought, word, and deed. I think I am, I say I am...then I have to paint and create more than 40 hrs a week to be. Get it? We are the master of ourselves, we just have to work at it!

My busy life really consists of my studio. I rarely leave my home, my friends pop on over here to see me, and I no longer have kids to take care of. As far as my marriage, my hubby is retired and 5 years ago took over everything domestic. I only cook on Sundays, do very little laundry, never clean, and don't grocery shop. Now, don't hate me. I've been married for 25 years and 16 of those years I worked 80 hr weeks, ran multiple flower shops, was a premier wedding planner, did all the cooking, all the lunches, all the laundry, all the cleaning, everything! My hubby could barely make toast without burning it. He taught himself to cook with the help of 'The Food Network', built a gourmet kitchen, and has turned into quite the chef. It keeps him busy, us healthy, and allows for me to work more in my studio. My hubby is also very artistic, so he loves to sit on my couch in my studio and watch me work, giving me his input, and building my ever expanding studio to help me accomplish my dreams. He is my biggest fan and supporter and without him I wouldn't be able to be an artist.

You create beautiful jewellery and paintings but is there something else you would like to try your hand at?
Hum, I think the only thing in my life that I've wanted to do and haven't was teach dance. I was never able to make that happen, and now my desire for it isn't as strong. Lately I've been itching to teach mixed media painting. I have taught floral design classes in the past and enjoyed it, so maybe I'll be teaching painting someday. Oh, and I'd love to be able to speak French. I've just started learning it and my gift to myself when I become fluent enough is a 3 week trip to France. Wow, I'm a bit all over the place, aren't I?

I really enjoyed participating in your weekly sketch challenge last year, do you plan to do another one?
The weekly stretching to sketch challenge was so much fun. It was also a lot of work. I had said I would pick it back up after the new year, but I really don't have time for it. Plus, I got tired of looking at myself, didn't you? I'd log onto my blog roll and every other post would be a photo of me, I even googled myself and my image popped up on blogs all around the world. I felt like I was getting a bit out of hand.

Not to get off subject, but this is funny, so I have to share. A few weeks ago, darling hubby picks me up from work. On the drive home he says, "I googled you today". I'm all, "WHAT?" Anyhow, I think he was a bit shocked. I reminded him that he was the photographer...he was very sweet and said he thought all my photos were artistic and tasteful, but he was a bit surprised as to how "popular" they were after all this time! So, we will wait a bit before we start another "Stretching to Sketch Challenge" and hopefully a few of you out there will volunteer to be the model every other week!

If you could use three words to describe yourself, what would they be?
Passionate, Joyful, Driven. I feel sometimes that I suffer a bit from creative ADD, but remember my statement above about perception? So now I call myself "creatively re-directed".

Congratulations on having your work shown in a gallery...a great achievement. How did it feel to stand back and see all your work displayed for people to buy?
A bit proud, scared, excited, overwhelmed. I'm proud to be one of the artists featured at the Gallery Off Broadway. The owner, Kathleen Fenton, is a wonderful woman. She had a vision to create a whimsical gallery that only sells art that is affordable to everyone. She has an art academy that teaches classes to all ages and levels. Children get to create art and sell it at an event called The Art Crawl. They are expected to represent their art and are encouraged to talk about their creations. Sales from The Art Crawl go to charity, with a small amount going to the artist.

What a wonderful vision to have and I'm happy that Kathleen asked me to be part of it. My originals are featured there along with my line of jewelry, frameable art cards, magnets, and now they have requested prints of my work.

The Gallery Off Broadway is located at 110 S. Main Street, Excelsior Springs, MO. If you are in the area, please stop by and say hello!

Do you have any tips for running an art business either online or otherwise?
Etsy is a wonderful online venue to sell art. It is inexpensive, easy to use, and the traffic there is wonderful. Also, don't be afraid to list your work. Everything you create won't be popular or sell right away, but keep believing in yourself, improving your shop, refining your listings, and showing your passion for your work. Your enthusiasm for your art will help it catch on!

What’s next for Kelly Berkey Designs?
Figurative Oil Painting is where my heart is at. I love mixed media and have found that I really love the look of an acrylic mixed media background with my figure in Oil. There is a contrast there that I find beautiful to look at. My biggest goal is to continue to work on emotion in my paintings. In my latest work, 'Courage', I finally felt that I've achieved that goal. Art for me needs to be more than beautiful, I want that emotional connection. If the viewer glances at my work and walks away, then I've failed as an artist. True art pulls you in, tickles your soul.

And lastly, thank you for being such a source of inspiration....who inspires you (blogging wold, non-blogging world etc).
Thank you Helen! I'm honored that you picked me to kick off your interview series this year. My 44th birthday is on January 24th, so for me this was a great honor and a wonderful present!

There are so many individuals that inspire my work, too many to list. Here are a few of my obsessions/inspirations right now:
Pauline Adair
Terri Smith
Diana Mulder
Martine Alison
Juliette Crane

Thank you Kelly for being so open, honest and inspiring! You can find Kelly's blog here, and browse her Zazzle store and her Etsy shop. Please drop by and have a look at her work, not only is it fabulous, but I am sure would make lovely gifts for friends, family or even yourself.

Have a great day!

Helen xx