We were lucky to catch up with Kelly Austin-Rolo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, thanks for joining us today. We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

My most recent investment in myself was taking an Advanced Teacher Training Workshop with R&F paints. I am an artist instructor for this wonderful manufacturer of high quality paint. Taking this workshop took my teaching abilities to the next level. Being able to share my techniques with other artists and help others learn helps open up my own creativity and adds discipline to my work ethic. Setting one’s own schedule has its advantages. Having a regular event thrown into the mix is a good thing for me. Also working alone all day can be isolating. eaching is a good way to connect with others.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I moved to Denver with the intention of becoming a full-time artist. My previous career was as a corporate interior designer, morphing into my own boutique design firm creating high-end residential spaces and furniture. Becoming a full-time artist had been a dream of mine for some time and at the end of 2016, this dream became a reality. As a creative, I consider myself an intuitive artist. I may have vague ideas about a piece as I start but I let the piece lead me as it progresses. My work is abstract, hinting at landscapes. Imaginary places, celestial and map based images. I also think of much of my work as looking out of a portal or looking down on the earth; as a plan or arial view. I don’t like to describe my work in too much detail as I like the viewer to see what they see in a piece. I do sometimes name a piece with title that will give a hint of my meaning, not always, and it may be vague.
I work primarily with encaustic as a medium. Encaustic is a beeswax based medium. It involves using heat and painting in the molten form, typically on a wooden substrate.
I also use the same medium, encaustic paint, in a hot printmaking process, to make encaustic monotypes. A monotype is a one-of-a-kind print: an original piece of art created on paper.
I started teaching how to work with encaustics in 2022. In 2023 I became an Advanced Certified Artist Instructor for R&F Paints. R&F is the premier manufacturer of two distinct paint lines: classic wax-based encaustic paint and linseed oil-based Pigment Stick. I design and teach workshops and present demonstrations representing their product lines.
I teach at Prism Arts Workshop, The Art Students League Denver, and at my Studio at 910Arts, 910 Santa Fe Drive, Denver.
I love interacting with the public. When I am working in my studio, I tend to keep the door open most of the time and welcome people to come in an talk and enjoy explaining my process. First Fridays in The Art District on Santa Fe, where my studio is located, is one of my favorite times. Hundreds of people pass through my studio, talking art and process. The last Sunday of the month, Sundays on Santa Fe, are a little slower paced, but enjoyable with visitors enjoying Sunday afternoon gallery and studio visits.
I show my work with a wonderful group of artists, just few doors up the block, at NKollectiv Gallery, 960 Santa Fe Drive. The gallery was started in 2022 by Nicole Korbe, gallerist and artist. It is a beautiful place to have my art showcased.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think Denver has a thriving and beneficial ecosystem supporting the arts. Could it be better? Yes! I think the city government could help art districts survive by more financial support for arts districts. They need to look at property taxes for the businesses in these creative districts that make these areas thrive. Owners of properties being used for galleries, studios and the small businesses that make our art districts unique should have lower property tax rates. There is a streetscape project, currently in the planning stages, for The Arts District on Santa Fe in Denver. I think this is a wonderful idea and needed. I hope that galleries and artists are not priced out of the district by the time this is completed. The city of Denver uses its arts and arts districts as a marketing tool to attract tourism to our creative and beautiful city. They need to help preserve the historic nature of the arts districts by helping artists and arts related businesses to be able to afford to stay in these districts.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The biggest pivot in my life involves many things, all connected and related. It involves learning how to live a sober life. I moved to Denver in 2016. I started my journey to become a full-time artist. I was, what I considered, someone who was high functioning and living with a substance use disorder. I didn’t know anyone in Denver when I first moved here. And I was okay until I wasn’t. The isolation of Covid hit me hard. My 30+ year marriage was slowly ending. There were many steps and struggles in between then and now. Many friends and many circles I have become a part of helped me. My family believed in me and that helped me to move forward in a positive way.. The biggest steps were believing in myself, learning to be my own partner in life first. Letting go of the guilt and shame associated with addiction and mental health disorders has been a big step for me. Speaking openly about my struggle with addiction for the first time, now, is a huge step.
Being sober has had a huge influence on my creative brain. I am a new person when it come to my creativity, my confidence and my belief that I can create good in both my art and my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: kellyaustinrolo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaustinrolo/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaustinrolo
• Twitter: [email protected]

Image Credits
Suzanne Frazier