Artist Statement
To place a brushstroke, grainy or scratchy image on top of a pristine photograph, degrading the image and breaking fundamental photographic rules is important in my work as an artist, to communicate the medium in an alternative way, to provoke memory in the viewer by offering nostalgic references (in the brushstroke or scratch), paying homage to artists like Turner, Constable and Giacometti.
I strive to create a cohesive body of work which encompasses a broad range of techniques, from sharp scenes, to blurred figures, captured in silhouette, where the textural layers take on a more prominent role.
Process Statement
Photographic Encaustic, an emerging process in the Fine Art Photography world is an ancient practice of mixing Beeswax with Damar Resin, (or tree sap in it's rawest form).
Once the board has been prepared with Gesso I glue the image down with acid-free adhesive and coat with U.V varnish. The edges of the image are sanded and the edge is stained with oil based Ebony.
The hot Beeswax and Damar Resin mixture are now applied and worked with a heatgun and metal spatula before finally using a hot flat iron to finish the effect.
Pete Kelly was born in Cumbria, NW England.
Son of a military man and grew up in West Germany with British Forces Schools.
Introduced to the fundamentals of photography in 1984, by completing
a six month (YTS) Internship course in Photography at the ‘Royal Air Force Photographic Unit’ Wildenrath.
After completing a BND in Graphic Design/Advertising'at Stockport College, UK in 1986,
Pete then moved to the U.S.A in 1987, and stayed until 2002, living in West Palm Beach Florida, Kansas City Missouri,where he completed a six month internship at Vedros & Associates, a leading commercial studio. Pete moved to Brooklyn New York to work as a freelance photographer as well as spending time in the Southwest especially Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Pete returned to the U.K in 2004 and continued the connection with Robin Rice Gallery and other galleries and Publishers.
Pete has exhibited 4 solo shows at Robin Rice Gallery in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2010.
Pete continues to work with curators, interior designers, galleries and licensing companies,
as well as private collectors such as Ken Jones Fine Art and Jerry Bruckheimer, (producer of the Pirates of the Carribean movies).
