Kelly Mcelrea

I am an oil painter and I experiment with mixed media, fabrics, and whatever falls within reach.

have been working primarily in oil paint and mediums, using layers of simple line drawing, mark making, and impasto paint techniques to create intrinsic compositions that invite the viewer to explore the depth in the work created by the resin layers.

I have always been interested in the combination of seemingly dissimilar elements to create a unified image. Initially I became interested in high fidelity painting combined with loose gestural areas that explored the concept of memory and issues of self editing over time.

I then branched off into abstract landscape that explored the use of color and impasto areas to describe the prairie landscape that is often overlooked. At which point I began combining the gestural impasto work with areas of controlled line drawing, and moved into layers of line drawing and mark making over impasto paint layers with resin to separate and create depth.

I graduated from the Alberta College of Art and Design in 2006 having studied under such painters as Chris Cran and Jim Ulrich with a BFA (with distinction) majoring in Painting. I was then married in the summer of 2008 and made plans to move to rural Saskatchewan to focus on painting and creating a body of work to show.

Unfortunately it was shortly after this move that my husband became ill and unable to work. Changing focus was a necessity rather than a choice at that time and lead to my eventual 2nd University degree, a BScN from the University of Alberta in 2014. I have been working full time as a Registered Nurse since this time, currently employed at the Rockyview Hospital in Calgary Alberta.

I am excited to be focusing more attention on my passion with this new series of work. I have and will continue to pursue art as my primary focus and first true love, sorry Dave. . . .