Artist Jo Ridge Kelley echoes the fleeting beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains in vivid creations, channeling Appalachia’s untamed essence through light, color, and raw emotion.
In the quiet early mornings outside of Waynesville, North Carolina, artist Jo Ridge Kelley is already at work as the first light spills over the ancient and rounded tops of the Blue Ridge Mountains. “My surroundings,” she says, “the wild mountain environment inspires me from the moment I awake and peer out the window at dawn to the enchanting last light of the setting sun.” Her art is more than a depiction of nature—an intimate conversation with it, a dance of light, color, and emotion unfolding on canvas.
Joe Ridge Kelley’s connection to the land is as strong and deep as the roots of the sycamore and old oaks she paints. Born and raised on a dairy farm, she spent her formative years immersed in the natural world’s rhythms. “Spending the first 18 years of my life on a dairy farm, I relished every moment of outdoor exploration,” she recalls. “I grew very fond of all flora and fauna and knew I wanted to live close to nature.” Her proximity to the North Carolina Zoo further nurtured this bond, a place she describes as “a dream come true for this lover of all things wild!”
Her artistic influences are as vast and varied as the trails she walks and the places she has painted. From the brilliance of Albert Bierstadt and J.M.W. Turner to the atmospheric depth of George Inness and Isaac Levitan, Kelley’s work pays homage to the old masters while embracing the vibrant energy of the Impressionists.
“I adore the landscape paintings in oil of many of the old masters…to the vibrant Impressionists Monet and Van Gogh and moody, atmospheric works of the Tonalists,” she explains. Yet, the way light bounces from green to blues against the yellows and browns of the Appalachian hills captivates her. “With the drama of the light in the Wild Smokies and across the Blue Ridge Mountains, I’m deeply drawn to capturing the feeling of those moments in the wilderness.”
Kelley’s body of art is a study in miscellany, a myriad of reflections on the seasons. Although the winters of Western North Carolina (WNC) are mild and sometimes quiet, she still eagerly anticipates the rebirth of spring. “After a long WNC winter, I can’t wait to paint the first blooms of Spring and then the summer wildflower meadows and garden flowers!” she exclaims.
Her technique is as dynamic as the landscapes she portrays, blending traditional methods with bold experimentation. “My lifelong love of color mixing and experimenting with various techniques, such as applying oil pigments with heavy impasto using a palette knife, keeps my creativity flowing!” she says. Her studio is a testament to this creative energy, with “huge landscapes inspired by the natural world” often dominating her easels.
For Kelley, inspiration is as unpredictable as the WNC weather. “I paint what I’m feeling, what’s on my heart each morning,” she explains. “It just depends greatly on what is happening outdoors.” A fleeting moment—a hummingbird’s return, the sudden bloom of Mountain Laurel, or the rush of a waterfall—can spark a new direction from what she thought she would paint to what she ends up painting.
“If my hummingbird is back, I have to paint it! If the Mountain Laurel or Rhododendron are popping open, they are on my easel!” she laughs. Water, in particular, holds a special place in her work. “If I find myself by a waterfall, lake, or river, it’s likely my next subject, whether abstract reflections or a traditional old master’s inspired rendering.”
Kelley’s process is a harmonious blend of outdoor exploration and studio refinement. She often begins her work en plein air, capturing the essence of a scene before returning to her studio to expand it into larger, more intricate compositions. “I often bring back ideas and studies from my plein air experiences and create much larger works in my studio,” she says.
Occasionally, she takes her studio to the mountains, hauling a six-foot canvas to the parkway to capture the grandeur of the vistas. “A canvas this size takes me a few sessions to complete…usually back in the studio,” she notes. Many of these large-scale works are commissioned by clients who share her love of the natural world. “Sunrise, sunset, wildflower meadows, and waterfalls are their favorite subjects,” she says. “Many of my favorite subjects, too, provide me with the best job in the world!”
Her new studio in the lower gallery of Twigs and Leaves Gallery in downtown Waynesville, has quickly become a gathering of curiosities and paintings. “I have five easels set up in my studio and my favorite areas with natural light,” she says. Visitors can watch her work, mainly afternoons from Thursday to Saturday.
She is often found on the mountainside the rest of the week, brush in hand. “I’m out on the mountain painting Sunday-Wednesday during the spring and fall,” she explains. For those interested in commissioning a piece, she recommends making an appointment. “It’s best to meet me in my studio to discuss a commissioned painting from the Natural World for your home or office. I’d love to paint for you!”
Teaching has been a cornerstone of Kelley’s career for over four decades. “I have always enjoyed sharing my love of painting outdoors and have taught for 45 years,” she says. This year, she plans to offer small plein air workshops, inviting artists of all levels to join her in the Courtyard of Smoky Mountain Studios. “All levels—and experience—are always welcome to join my workshops!” she emphasizes. Her teaching style is hands-on and deeply personal. “I lecture, demo, and then assist each painter individually,” she says.
For Jo Ridge Kelley, art is more than a profession—it is a way of life, a means of capturing the fleeting beauty of the world around her. “I strive to convey a particular mood and atmosphere,” she says, her eyes alight with passion. Through her work, she invites us to see the mountains not just as a backdrop but as a living, breathing entity—a wild muse that continues to inspire her and now, through her art, inspires us all.
Jo Ridge Kelly
Twigs & Leaves Gallery
Gallery Hours: Mon, Thurs-Sat 10-5:30 pm
Tues-Wed 12-5 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm
98 N Main St, Waynesville, NC
twigsandleaves.com • (828) 456-1940