Kelly Harmsen

My name is Kelly Harmsen and I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. 13 years ago my husband and I moved to Bradenton, Florida to get away of the cold weather.I am the daughter of a Greek Mother and an Italian Father. My heritage has everything to do with how I paint and live my life. I've been a licensed Cosmetologist for 29 years and I specialize in hair color. I've always loved color. I own an eclectic little hair salon called Bossa Nova Hair & Art Salon where I create my colors. I also have my abstract art and beaded jewelry available there. I love making beaded jewelry also. I guess you could say I have my hand in a lot of different pots lol.
Taking a blank canvas and putting my feelings onto it is one of the best feelings in the world. I create one of a kind abstract acrylic paintings. No two of my paintings are alike. I seem to go through phases with my art and once that phase is gone I can't create it again. It's so cool to see my creations develop totally on an organic feeling I might be having when I'm painting that day.

I'm a self taught artist that has always loved to play with colors until the last 6 years when I started taking it seriously.

Art Center Sarasota had three of my paintings added to their exhibit and they did very well.