Wayne Kelly is a Calgary born artist who has lived his entire life surrounded by the badlands, the mountains, and the prairies. He delights in all-season outdoor activities, and a passion for photography serves as a springboard for his portfolio.

While a very active artist in his youth, the demands of a career and raising a family saw Wayne set aside art for a couple of decades. After completing a 33-year career in the post-secondary sector, Wayne successfully redefined himself as an artist.

During the past two decades, Wayne has taken numerous art courses, life drawing classes, and workshops from the Alberta College of Art and Design, the University of Calgary Department of Art, several art centres and private individuals. He says, “I consider it a privilege to be a juried member of the Calgary Sketch Club, the oldest fine arts society in Calgary. Their continuing education program motivates me to keep learning and exploring new techniques, and the work of my fellow club members constantly encourages and inspires me”.

In recent years, Wayne has elected to focus exclusively on soft (chalk) pastels, which he uses in a painterly style. He paints the occasional work in watercolors and acrylics.  His subject matter encompasses landscape, wildlife, figurative, portraits, and pets.  Past creative endeavours include mosaics, wood block printing, woodworking, and guitar building.

Wayne states, “My goal is to connect emotionally with a viewer through the interplay of light, shadow, color and shape; to stimulate an interaction with the portrayed scene.”