Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kelly Clause. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kelly, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

Prior to my art career, I was an elementary school teacher. I really love working with kids, but as many of you can testify, they are CRAZY! They are unpredictable and some of them are simply not meant to sit in hard chairs behind desks under fluorescent lights for 7 hours a day. I was a first year teacher, and so proud of one of the intricate lesson plans I had come up with. I was less than halfway through what I thought was a brilliant history lesson, and to my surprise, I was losing them. I had to reroute. I decided then and there to scrap my whole lesson plan and have them break into groups and come up with a short skit to reenact what they were learning about. The sleepy blank eyes turned wide with ideas, and somehow, in all the chaos, I saw sixth graders engaging. Teaching taught me to be flexible. Your original plan is not always your best plan. In much the same way, watercolor teaches me the same lesson again and again. Be open. Loosen up. What is controlled and neat and structured and predictable is not always where the magic happens. It often happens in the chaos, in the letting go. Laugh through it all!

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’m a self-taught fine artist, born and raised in Santa Barbara, CA. I’ve loved drawing for as long as I can remember—entering local contests as a kid and doodling in the margins of college lecture notes years later. Still, I never saw art as a “practical” career path. Instead, I earned a degree in International Development, followed by a Master’s in Education. After dabbling in athletic training and retail, I settled into teaching elementary school.

Three years into a great teaching job, that persistent creative voice wouldn’t quiet down. I decided to take the leap—“retiring” early from teaching to pursue art full-time. It all began with a photo of a humpback whale, a love for the ocean, and my great-grandmother’s 100-year-old watercolor set. What started as a passion quickly turned into the most fulfilling path I’ve taken. From the beginning, my goal has been simple: to create art that brings peace. While there’s art that challenges, provokes, or disrupts, mine is about returning to stillness—the quiet wonder of nature. From light-saturated waves to purple mountains, to the curious eye of the massive humpback whale, we are reminded of the miracle of life itself; nature speaks loudly. When we decide to live in awe rather than urgency, the truest form of peace can emerge.

Almost eight years later, I feel grateful to have opened a combined studio and gallery space in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, just a block from the Pacific. My work has been featured in galleries, boutiques, maritime museums, medical facilities, wineries, and restaurants. I collaborate with retailers nationwide who carry my prints and greeting cards, and I especially enjoy custom projects—from 30-foot murals in Michelin-starred sushi bars to watercolors honoring beloved pets.
The best part of my job is the people I get to meet. I’ve worked with beer label designers, musicians, pro snowboarders, nonprofits, and countless individuals who boldly share their stories. I love connecting with clients—whether it’s an expecting mother designing a nursery or a corporate team envisioning a hotel lobby. My work is fueled by a deep fascination with the natural world and a desire to spark that same sense of wonder in others.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Purchase art from real people! Art is an investment, and just as we invest in our dental health, our clothing, our homes, art is an investment in your well-being. It’s time we started waking up to the value that art offers, and start caring about where it comes from. In a world that will increasingly be taken over by AI, art will be considered a fingerprint of human workmanship. There is priceless value in hanging a piece of art on your wall, however small, that is created by a real human being. If we can start to value the person behind the art, art becomes more than a pretty image; it is a human experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kellyclause.com
• Instagram: kellyclause_art
• Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits

David Mendoza III
Allie Chandler
Hannah Miller