CREATIVE BEGINNINGS. Kelli MacConnell was born and raised in Cincinnati, OH. As an avid hiker and adventure-seeking Midwest girl, she made her way to Portland in 2006. She became enchanted by the arts as a child and has always expressed a love for drawing and painting, but it wasn’t until studying art at Portland State University that Kelli discovered her passion for printmaking.

ARTISTIC PATH. Kelli received her BFA with a focus in printmaking in 2012 and enthusiastically began showing her work. Within a couple years of graduating, she made the transition to a working printmaker and has since been enjoying life as a full-time artist and mother. Kelli currently works and resides in Chimacum, WA.

INSPIRATION AND PROCESS. People ask, “Why a print, why not a painting?” On one hand, Kelli enjoys the act of using tools to shape something, but much of the joy rests within the surprise factor, the mystery that unfolds while printing each piece. The many unpredictable factors involved with this art, and its spontaneous process that demands energy, improvisation, gesture, expressiveness, and directness, all contribute to her enduring love for this medium.

Kelli’s current body of work focuses on the expansive, diverse environment of the Pacific Northwest landscape. With the simple use of contrast and minimal color, as well as line manipulation, she strives to create exhilarating compositions inspired by the natural world. Today, Kelli’s prints can be found in private collections, galleries and publications worldwide.