For Artworks this month we spoke to local pencil artist Kelly Brown.
I am Nottingham born and bred, growing up in St. Ann’s and later attending Elliott Durham School. For the most part I am a self-taught artist who has always had a pencil in hand, drawing anything I possibly could! Growing up I wanted to be a children’s illustrator but was told I would never make it and needed to get a ‘proper job’, so I stopped drawing for a number of years. Over time I taught myself to draw again, this time as a way of self expression. Having recently suffered the loss of both parents my artwork has acted as a way of coping with this loss, and the use of colour really helps with this.
Over the years I’ve used my art in different settings, from illustrations on furniture to portraits. I never name my pieces, but perhaps I should start doing so. My portraits are often full of colour, as I have been exploring the use of colour in my pencil portraits as a form of self expression. Colour, for me, provokes a sense of happiness and joy.
When creating my portraits, once I have my reference photo, I will choose the paper based on the colours to be used in the portrait. Currently, I like to use toned paper as this really makes my drawings pop. I then transfer my reference image to paper using a pencil - at this stage it is usually only an outline and very light pencil lines. Next, I start on the details (my favourite part) using my phone to zoom in and out of the reference image whilst drawing to capture the best likeness I can. I often start with the eyes as I find these the most fascinating parts of the portrait; they capture so much emotion. Depending on the level of detail required, I will often use different grades of pencil to highlight particular features, then start to incorporate colour. My portraits typically take from 20-30 hours to complete.
My portraits are often full of colour, as I have been exploring the use of colour in my pencil portraits as a form of self expression
I love all types of art, but especially pieces that are relatable and create a sense of emotion. One of the artists that got me into drawing portraits was Florence Lee. I'm drawn to Flo’s use of colour in her work and got to meet her in person a couple of years ago. Another artist I really admire is Emma Towers-Evans: a pencil artist specialising in hyperrealism. Her work is incredible and I aspire to be able to produce artwork with her level of detail
I’ve been creative for as long as I can remember but it was my art teacher at secondary school, Rose Rutherford, who really saw something in me and pushed me to do really well at the subject. I will be forever grateful for her endless encouragement.
I hope to showcase my work in an exhibition in the near future, but for now, I am open for commission work and can be contacted through my Instagram page.
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