Hello, my name is Kelly Boies. Welcome to my online art portfolio!
Quick facts:
- Artist from the Pacific Northwest
- Digital and Traditional Painter
- Chronic Illness Spoonie
- Guinea Pig Mom
- Passionate about Accessibility
I have been making art since before I can remember. I grew up using traditional media and especially enjoyed graphite and watercolor. These days, my primary medium is digital art, but I’ll always have a place in my heart for watercolor.
What is Digital Art?
Digital painting programs (like Photoshop or Procreate) are software that simulate traditional media or offer new ways for artists to create.
Digital art requires most of the same skills as traditional art, that are carefully honed over time: observation, sketching, design, composition, draftsmanship, rendering, color theory, etc. However, digital art does not require cleaning brushes, waiting for paint to dry, or inhaling paint thinner fumes.
The Digital Painting Process
I approach digital painting in much the same way as I approach traditional art. Like all great realists of the past, I use references: carefully observing form, light, and details from life or photographs.
Painting is a lot like problem solving. There is no right way to start, but once a mark is made, it sets a precedent for the next stroke. Artists draw on what appear to be ‘instincts’, but are in fact judgements that are based on countless hours of study, observation, and practice. The path to a final piece depends on the artist’s skill, personal style, and what meaning they want to convey to the viewer.
Each mark is a decision. According to my painting programs, which record every stroke, I make at least 1,000-2,000 decisions per piece!