Greg Kelsey has spent most of his life immersed in art and cowboy life. His sculptures reflect, not just an affinity for western traditions and history, but a long involvement with both. For Greg, “the story of the western life is worth being told in an authentic way. When you live it, you can show a perspective that’s not always seen from afar.” Greg feels the storyteller should endeavor to communicate the mindset of his subjects; his life’s work is to create sculpture with a pulse and give voice to fleeting traditions.
Being mostly self-taught, sculpture has been a continual journey of growth for Greg. He has found that “In every action there are simple, artful lines that occur naturally.” The magic is finding those lines and putting them to use to help him create the overall shape and movement of a piece – that’s “putting the art in it” as Greg says. The challenge is to bring the action across, in harmony with those lines, and let the piece live.
These days Greg keeps his own small herd of longhorns and few head of horses. Though he keeps a busy daily work schedule in the studio, he makes time to crawl on the back of a horse to re-gain a little inspiration and peace of mind. As Greg figures it one feeds the other - any time in the studio or time with his stock is time well spent. His western themes stem from his own life. “Whether it’s buckin’ horses, ropin’, pushin’ cows or whatever, that’s where I get my inspiration for art and for everyday decisions. That’s the current, right there. You get out of the current and all those ideas and abilities seem to pass you by. Get back in the saddle; and it’s all there again.”
Kelsey feels that being able to use his talent every day is a blessing, “There’s a real connection with the Creator when you live the dream.”
Being mostly self-taught, sculpture has been a continual journey of growth for Greg. He has found that “In every action there are simple, artful lines that occur naturally.” The magic is finding those lines and putting them to use to help him create the overall shape and movement of a piece – that’s “putting the art in it” as Greg says. The challenge is to bring the action across, in harmony with those lines, and let the piece live.
These days Greg keeps his own small herd of longhorns and few head of horses. Though he keeps a busy daily work schedule in the studio, he makes time to crawl on the back of a horse to re-gain a little inspiration and peace of mind. As Greg figures it one feeds the other - any time in the studio or time with his stock is time well spent. His western themes stem from his own life. “Whether it’s buckin’ horses, ropin’, pushin’ cows or whatever, that’s where I get my inspiration for art and for everyday decisions. That’s the current, right there. You get out of the current and all those ideas and abilities seem to pass you by. Get back in the saddle; and it’s all there again.”
Kelsey feels that being able to use his talent every day is a blessing, “There’s a real connection with the Creator when you live the dream.”
