Kelly Whyte – Following the light & chasing down a dream

A relative newcomer to the Kawartha Lakes art community, artist Kelly Whyte talks about her childhood in a rural community near Belleville, ON.  “I grew up in the woods, walking with my dog and getting inspiration from my natural surroundings. I started drawing when I was eight or nine years old.”

Settling into acrylics, Whyte painted as a hobby. Eventually she made the move to the Bobcaygeon area, began a 30-year teaching career, married and started a family. During that time her art took a hiatus. “I didn’t have somewhere to call my own. Painting in the basement came with too many distractions and interruptions,” she explains, adding “the light was terrible.”

“When I retired, I decided to give oils another try, after a disappointing experience in high school. I took it as a challenge; I bought some books and some paints, and I was very pleased with the results. Oils allow for texture, and I’m experimenting with palette knives now.”

Retirement also gave rise to Rapley Fields Art Studio. “It gives me that space where I can escape from everything, put on some jazz and immerse myself in the experience of creating,” says Whyte. Her studio is bright and airy, and in that space, she embraces the light. “For me, light equals optimism, and it can make or break a painting. I am always following the light, doing my best to capture it.”

Her paintings do indeed capture the light, inviting one into their story – to go down a path, to follow a river, or to simply stand in a field. Her colours are rich and her subject matter feels familiar and comfortable.

“I love when someone can relate to a painting, when it reminds them of a special place,” says Whyte as she talks about the recent experience of putting her art ‘out there’. Once she made the decision, she applied to participate in the 2021 Victoria County Studio Tour. “I never felt I had enough pieces to show, so the Studio Tour was the push, and I was very encouraged by the feedback!”

Marketing herself on social media as “Originals by Kelly”, Whyte’s goal is to develop a style that is recognizable. “I keep learning, experimenting – I learn from every painting I do, whether it’s good or not so good,” she explains.

And her advice to anyone who wants to follow their art – “embrace your passion and just go for it!”

By Belinda Wilson