Art has always been part of my life. Long before careers, deadlines and boardrooms, there were childhood art classes near the shores of Lake Michigan, sketchbooks, museum visits and the simple excitement of creating something from nothing. Even during 40+ years in high-level management consulting, that creative pull never disappeared.

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After leaving McKinsey & Company, I finally gave myself permission to return fully to the things that have always made me feel most alive: art, travel and lifelong learning.

For me, painting and travel are deeply connected. Both invite us to slow down, observe more carefully and become fully present. Whether standing in front of a quiet shoreline, wandering through a historic city or mixing paint at the easel, the experience is ultimately about noticing. Light. Shape. Atmosphere. Emotion. Story.

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That philosophy shapes the way I teach.

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I believe strong painting comes from understanding the why behind what we see, not simply copying what is in front of us. While style and personal expression matter greatly, they are built upon a foundation of core artistic principles that help artists create work with clarity, depth and confidence.

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My teaching emphasizes six essential components that appear repeatedly throughout my instruction:

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1. Composition 

How we arrange shapes, values and focal points to guide the viewer’s eye and create visual interest.

2. Perspective

Both linear and atmospheric perspective help create believable space, distance and depth within a painting.

3. Form and Likeness

Understanding how objects occupy space, how light wraps around form and how to capture the essence of a subject.

4. Value

The foundation of strong painting. Learning to see light and dark relationships clearly creates structure, mood and realism.

5. Color

Exploring temperature, harmony, intensity and emotional impact rather than simply matching color mechanically.

6. Brushwork

Developing marks that create movement, energy, texture and personality within a piece.

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My goal is not to teach students to paint exactly like me. Instead, I want to help artists better understand what they are seeing so they can develop confidence, technical skill and ultimately their own artistic voice.

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I also believe art should feel approachable and meaningful. Many adults quietly carry a creative dream that was set aside for careers, raising families or simply the busyness of life. I understand that journey personally. Returning to art later in life can feel exciting, vulnerable and deeply fulfilling all at once.

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That is part of why I created Artful Traveler Atelier — a space where art and travel come together through exploration, creativity and connection. Through destination-inspired lessons, cultural exploration and painting instruction, I hope to help others rediscover curiosity, creativity and the joy of making art.

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Because in the end, art is not just about producing a finished painting.

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It is about learning to truly see the world around us — and perhaps ourselves — a little differently.

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I hope you join me on this journey!

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Kelly 

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