Kelli Joy Thompson

I am an Abstract and Impressionist painter living in Chicago, IL. My focus is creating mixed media paintings that evoke mystery and mood with their atmospheric quality.

I use a variety of materials and tools to create texture; this includes my bare hands. I paint intuitively and follow the direction that each stroke of the knife, dab of the brush or swipe of my finger takes me.

Through my work, I hope to make a true connection with the viewer using color and texture to suggest the interaction of energy and calm // observing and feeling // actual and exaggerated.

Beginning with my first drawing class in college, I knew that I wanted to live my life as an artist and earned a BA of Studio Art in 1997. Though if I'm really honest, my love of painting blossomed as a child watching Bob Ross on PBS Saturday mornings.

My obsession with color theory began while painting “en plein air” in Monet’s gardens and around the French Normandy countryside. I spent a total of 5 months in France studying the Impressionism technique of capturing light and atmosphere directly from nature with inventive color.

I founded and grew InteriorArtistry.us from 1999 to 2016 as a specialty painting company using walls as my canvas. I created murals and innovative paint finishes in many homes. To compliment my fine art background and instinctive knowledge of home spaces, I continued my education by studying Interior Design and received an Associates degree with High Honors in 2012. I had the opportunity to design home projects around Chicago, including kitchen and bath transformations.

While living in Munich, Germany from 2016-2021, I was able to focus on creating fine art. I have carried this love of creating and exploring my artist style back to Chicago with me.