We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kellie Delaney . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kellie below.

Hi Kellie , thanks for joining us today. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

I find it very difficult to be a creative on social media. It’s not enough just to make the art; you have to market yourself as well. Things are always changing, too. You have to figure out the algorithm, make reels, and make sure to constantly post. I’m a pretty introverted and awkward person. Being outgoing online is hard for me. I overthink every single post and story I make. I’m very fortunate to have the connections I made at previous jobs; they’ve really helped me get my name out there.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Kellie Delaney and I’m a Florida native. I specialize in acrylic paint and my main focus is portraits. I also dabble in digital art.  I worked in various restaurants and bakeries making all things sweet, for ten years, while painting in my free time. I’d paint things for coworkers and I would do local markets with a friend, offering only a few print options. When my daughter was born in 2020, I decided to pursue art while staying home with her. The markets became more frequent and the print numbers increased.

A lot of my work is pet portraits, and they are definitely the most requested. My favorite subjects to paint are fictional characters and anything fantasy or spooky. When doing these, I offer them as originals and prints. I’ve recently started murals, as well, which I absolutely love.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I would love to do more murals, specifically of people and animals. Fantasy, horror and pop culture themes would be an added bonus. Painting on a large scale is a really fun challenge. As an avid reader, I would also love to someday illustrate book covers. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover, but I’m a sucker for books with interesting artwork.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

People’s reactions, for sure. It never gets old when people get excited about a piece I’ve done, whether it be their beloved pet, or just a favorite character I’ve painted. I love hearing about people receiving pet portraits as gifts or seeing my prints displayed in people’s homes.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kelliedelaneyart.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kelliedelaneyart