January Musings; Hello 2025 and a Little Introduction!!!
As this is the first blog of 2025, I thought I would do a little introduction about KAS Art Studio and the artist (me!) that creates the work.
So, here goes….I am Kellyanne Thorne, although I much prefer Kel or Kelly. I am married with three children; a twelve year old boy and almost 10 year old boy/girl twins, plus a very excitable 4 year old Standard Schnauzer! Originally from Gloucester (yes I still have a farmer accent), we live in a ‘doer upper’ in London, UK, that always needs things doing to it and repairing, but we are getting there…slowly!
I have always been creative and as a child I loved drawing and making things. Once I finished school I went on to University to do a BA (Hons) in Fine Art specialising in Sculpture. I had dreams of becoming an artist but realised pretty soon I needed money to live and so I did a PGCE in Secondary education.
I loved being an Art Teacher and despite what people say, I think teenagers are great, even the ‘challenging’ ones! I met and married my husband and we lived in Germany travelling around Europe for the first three years of our marriage. When we returned to the UK I started working in a school as the Head of Art and Photography department and completed an MA in Teaching and Learning. Then my son arrived and there was a shift; I decided I wanted to be at home with him and we were luckily in a situation where I had this choice, and it is something that I have never regretted. Two years after my son was born twins arrived, and although those days could be hard, I loved them. I taught myself to crochet as a creative outlet that I could do around the children until they were all at school and then I got the paints, pastels and chalks out and began to play. I took part in the prompt challenge, Inktober, and this was where I rediscovered my love of drawing.
In March this year this little creative business of mine has been going for three years. During this time I have exhibited in five art fairs, designed, painted and drawn signage for my local park, created a series of pet portraits from a local business, completed personal commissions, sold originals and prints and recently completed the illustrations for six children’s books to be published in April. Annnd breathe!
In these three years there are paths I aimed to explore that I haven’t (I will eventually!) but then again there has been other amazing opportunities that have arisen that I have jumped at. I never thought I would have my work displayed in my local park and although publishing my drawings has always been a dream, I always thought it was just that; a dream!
As a big planner, I always see the end of the year as an opportunity to review what I have achieved as well as what has or hasn’t worked and the new year as a time to plan and set targets. And I have many plans for 2025!!!
I have already fulfilled one of my priorities this year and that was to complete the 164 illustrations for the six children’s books - phew! It was a big piece of work but so much fun and yes I already miss them! This year, once the books are published, will hopefully include lots of workshops and author/illustrator visits to promote the books which are such a personal project both for myself and the author Marielle (more of them to come later!).
I have also already booked two art fairs with Art:Surrey in March and in October and so I have lots of work to create for these shows. I also want to develop the business side by giving my website a big overhaul and I am seriously considering closing my Etsy shop and selling directly from my website - it’s something I need to look into. Now that I exhibit in art fairs regularly and I will be running the workshops and author/illustrator visits, it is time to begin that newsletter to promote these dates. Finally, as I mentioned earlier about my house being a work in progress, this year we are planning on building a garden studio (fingers crossed!). I cannot begin to describe my excitement about having my own space with all my materials in one place and being able to make a big ol’ mess! I’m also intrigued to see if working in a studio rather than the dining room table has an impact of my work, we will see!
I always feel motivated at the start of a new year, I don’t set New Year’s resolutions, but I do set targets and make plans to give direction and focus. I am already feeling very excited about this year and the possibilities it holds. I hope you will join me on this journey to discover what 2025 has in store for us.