Kelly Williams
About Kelly
Kelly Williams is a contemporary painter with over 20 years of professional experience, merging her background in social work with her passion for art and teaching. Exhibiting and collected internationally, her practice explores psychological expression, social reflection, and environmental transformation, addressing themes of healing in both personal and ecological contexts. Williams uses an innovative mixed media approach to encaustic, pushing the boundaries of materiality by incorporating location-specific materials such as Pacific Northwest forest fire ash or peat ash and holy well water from Ireland to explore narrative and environmental themes in both abstract and figurative forms. Through the alchemy of fire, beeswax, and natural elements, she creates layered works that embody cycles of healing, resilience, and transformation.
An R&F Core Artist Instructor, Williams presents at the International Encaustic Conferences and IEA Retreats, teaches online for Painting with Fire, and leads studio workshops in her Portland, Oregon studio. She is the recipient of multiple grants, including those from the Ford Family Foundation, Oregon Arts Council, Regional Arts and Culture Council, and the International Encaustic Association, and has been awarded multiple artist residencies in Ireland.
You can view Kelly’s work at:
kellywilliamsart.com
www.instagram.com/kellywilliamsart
www.facebook.com/kellywilliamsart69
Class Details
Earth & Ash: Materiality and Meaning
In this workshop, you’ll explore the power of ash as a storytelling material—whether sourced from the land, personal rituals, or nature’s remnants. You’ll learn how to work with these elemental substances and incorporate them into your creative process, using them to infuse your artwork with the essence of place, memory, and transformation. I will demonstrate how I use ingredients sourced from my Ireland residency, but we will also explore other site-specific materials—such as foraged finds, particulates, handmade inks, and even holy well water—encouraging you to see the world around you as a vast source of narrative potential. These materials carry deep cultural, environmental, and personal significance, and by working with them, you’ll learn how to weave rich layers of meaning into your art. Through these explorations, you’ll uncover the stories embedded in the materials you encounter, creating work that reflects a profound connection to time, place, and personal history.
Encaustic on Paper: Exploring Scale, Edges and Alternative Display
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to use heavy paper as an effective substrate for encaustic painting, experimenting with various scales to create both figurative and abstract pieces. I’ll share my process for creating pieces like my Ireland-inspired Goddesses series and demonstrate techniques such as tearing, burning, and dipping to shape your art. We will also explore alternative display methods that push the boundaries of traditional presentation. Whether you’re working in the studio, traveling, or during a residency, this workshop will inspire you to transform encaustic on paper into an exciting, versatile medium.
