Kelly West is an established multidisciplinary artist known for her semi-abstract blind contour drawings and linoleum block prints, with a focus on Nature in both genres. With a background in Art History, West continues to be intellectually curious about the societal influence on the artmaking process, while also understanding the importance of artmaking as a way to focus on the present moment.

Ebbing between the semi-abstract feel of blind contour line drawing and the manual process of linoleum block printmaking, West’s practice is a journey of understanding and portraying the essence of each animal she creates. Her most recognizable works are her blind contour line drawings: single continuous line drawings of animals made while not looking at the paper and not lifting the pen, with watercolor paint added after to bring the animals to life. West has also recently begun to make hand-carved linoleum block prints of animals in various scenes. While the juxtaposition of sinuous blind contour line drawing alongside the hardness of linoleum block prints and bold ink might not align at first glance, the works are unified by their primary focus on Nature as subject.

Nature has always been the primary subject of West’s art, from companion animal commissions that she has made for devoted pet owners across the globe, to other works she has made celebrating wild animals from forests, fields, and myriad other habitats.