Meet Nicole Kelln | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Kelln and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I decided to pursue an artistic career because art has always been my passion. From a young age, I was naturally drawn to anything creative and found a deep sense of joy in the artistic process. Creating art helps me feel calm and centered, and it has supported me through both challenging times and my biggest celebrations. Before becoming a full-time artist, I worked as an elementary school art teacher, where I aimed to inspire my students and nurture their creativity in a positive environment. I still seek opportunities to share my love for art within the Denver community through teaching and collaboration.

Currently, I’m focused on building my portfolio, experimenting with new materials, and embracing a full time art career while balancing the responsibilities of motherhood. I’m incredibly grateful to have followed this creative path because I truly can’t imagine my life without art.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve always been drawn to painting, it’s the medium that resonates most with me. I love creating art that tells a story, and many of the subjects I paint hold significant, personal memories. I also love the process of learning more about what I’m painting. For instance, when I work with vintage car magazines for my collages, I enjoy discovering the history behind the cars and how they’ve brought people together, forming communities. Lately, I’ve been excited to explore mixed media, which has opened up a whole new avenue of creativity for me.

In June, I made the decision to leave my teaching career to become a full-time artist and stay at home mom, one of the best choices I’ve ever made. This change has given me the time and space to step outside my comfort zone and fully immerse myself in new artistic pursuits. When I was teaching, I mostly worked on smaller canvases, often painting peaceful nature scenes or flowers, which helped me relax after long days. Now, I can dedicate more energy and time to carefully plan my concepts, source special materials, work on larger canvases, and create more ambitious and meaningful projects.

Being an artist has its challenges, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. One of the biggest obstacles has been finding the time to dedicate to my art, especially now as a stay at home mom. I paint during my son’s nap times or wake up early to squeeze in creative hours before the day starts. Getting my work out there, whether through social media, galleries, or local venues, has also been a challenge, and rejection is something every artist faces. While it can be discouraging at times, it ultimately motivates me to keep pushing forward.

What I want people to know about my art is that it’s always evolving. I strive to create pieces that invite viewers to engage with them in different ways. I’m a strong believer in the growth mindset, something I embraced during my teaching career, and this philosophy drives me to continue experimenting with new subjects and materials. My journey is ongoing, and I want others to feel like they’re a part of it as I continue to grow and evolve.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love going to the mountains and going on hikes, especially in the fall when the colors are stunning. Whether it’s exploring Red Rocks, hiking around Boulder, Golden, or even making a trip to Aspen, I always love spending time in nature. Around the Denver area, I love grabbing a coffee and going on walks. Wash Park, Sloans Lake and City Park are all beautiful. I love taking Briggs, my son, to the Botanic Gardens and finding family friendly activities around Denver. He’s been loving the Aquarium, Children’s Museum, and The Museum of Nature and Science. My husband and I love to explore new restaurants, some of our favorite restaurants include Tavernetta and Anette.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe a lot of my success to my husband, who has always been by my side, encouraging me to pursue my passion for art. When we first met, I wasn’t prioritizing my art, and he was instrumental in helping me dedicate time to my craft, by creating a studio space, and encouraged me to start sharing my work with the public as well as find an art community.

Recently, he’s been helping me with resin pours and even building things for my studio to work with new materials. I enjoy discussing my ideas with him, and he even helps source unique supplies, like vintage comics, old novels, and niche magazines. I am incredibly grateful to have a partner who understands the importance of art in my life and continuously supports me in pursuing my dream.

Website: https://colietaylorart.com/

Instagram: colietaylorart

Facebook: Colie Taylor Art