Kelley Estes is without a doubt a woman who possesses many talents. In addition to being a mom, she is an artist, a sculptor and interior designer! I am so honored that she wanted to talk to Estér. With us, she shares how her interest in art have developed, how she defines success, best places to visit in Nashville and how her different practices influence each other.

Firstly, thank you so much for doing this interview! I would love to get to know you more. Can you share with us a bit about who you are?

I am an artist living in Nashville, TN. I began my professional career over 30 years ago painting children’s portraits and landscapes in oil and pastel. At a certain point, I decided I only wanted to produce non-commission works and pursue only subjects that interested me. I began exploring the medium of sculpture and learned the complete process of bronze casting in the lost wax art form. Eventually I transitioned to working in marble as well as bronze, thus a more limited way of sculpting, as with the stone it is only reductive work.

On a more personal note, I am a mother of three grown children, all artistically gifted and all living in Nashville! I love the outdoors and spend a lot of time in nature. I also love sports and am an avid athlete, enjoying tennis, hiking, yoga, water skiing, and biking. I love beauty in all forms and it is reflected in my many passions: nature, art, fashion, flower arranging, cooking, poetry, garden design, interior design… And I enjoy simple pleasures more than extravagant gestures.

You’re an extremely talented artist, both within sculpting and painting. When did your love for these fields of art start, and how have they developed throughout the years?

From an early age, I loved to draw and was fascinated by the box of 64 color Crayola crayons. Growing up I enrolled in art classes and worked from life. I studied Art History at Vanderbilt University and afterwards began work on a Masters of Fine Art at Corcoran School of Art and Museum in Washington, D.C. I studied pastel and oil with the Master Pastelist, William Schultz. I furthered my study in drawing at Charles Cecil Studio in Florence, Italy. My sculpture mentor is Dr. William Doak, in Nashville, who taught me to work in wax and clay and cast in bronze.

My art has evolved and changed over the years as I pursued new mediums. Travel and visiting museums and exhibits have definitely influenced my art. I am always curious: looking, reading, learning and trying new things with my work.

Growing up in Nashville, did you have any role models who influenced your world of art? And today, what/who inspires you?

Growing up my dad, who is a woodturner, was an artistic influence. I was also exposed at an early age to a sculpture foundry and bronze casting, though it was years later before I would actually pursue this art form. Today I am inspired by travel, visiting museums, art and design books, and by forms and textures found in nature. The natural world is the best inspiration. I look for beauty in all things.

The definitions of art are many - how would you define it?

Art is beauty and life; it is the attempt to communicate something ephemeral and intangible in a very tangible way. It is capturing the essence of something — a pose, a moment, a feeling, a form or shape, a memory

How would you define you style of work, and what do you want your art to do?

My own art is full of emotion and very expressive. I think you could say it is very “intuitive”. I strive for my art to “move” someone; for the viewer to be transported or for a moment in time to be elevated, a reflection experienced, for something to be “felt.”

Would it be possible for you to let us in on the creative process of how a piece of art is created?

My creative process usually starts with an idea, often with a shape or texture I have seen in nature, or a pose of the human form that I find interesting and want to explore either as a painting or work of sculpture. Sometimes ideas or inspiration come from something completely unexpected, say a photography show, a book, an add, a ripple of current on the river; really it can just be anything that is interesting. I often store up these ideas or images in my mind and they come out in my work. When working with marble, the stone itself presents direction on where a plane might need to be, or where a form might need to turn, where texture and hand chiseling work needs to be executed, or where a surface demands to be smooth. Also, moving between abstract and realism offers other challenges and possibilities of how to see something. An abstract figure may not need to be completely anatomically correct, yet it must be correct enough to communicate a pose or an attitude. An abstract painting might reflect an idea or emotion rather than actual objects or subjects. I took a year off of painting a few years ago after reading a quote by a Russian artist that stated: “IN ORDER TO MOVE FREELY, YOU MUST BE DEEPLY ROOTED.” I spent a year reading poetry and other texts and thinking on where and how am I deeply rooted in my life. The result afterwards was the execution of 7 abstract mixed media paintings in which I attempted to capture how I felt about different works of poetry and writing in a very nonliteral way. (This series is called the Poetry Series and can be viewed on my website: kelleyestes.com)

I am very passionate about my art! I am particularly enjoying working right now in different Italian marbles. When the marble blocks arrive, they typically weigh 250-450 pounds! The stone blocks are a little intimidating yet also very rewarding to work on, as the veining and colors are only revealed after carving and sanding. The stone reveals its beauty as you go along, including surprises in colors, veining, texture, fractures. There is always the danger of breakage in an unintended place when chiseling a piece. You have no choice but to go with it! The stone presents itself to you and often dictates where a plane needs to be as the form emerges. As you begin to polish and refine the shape it is very exciting, as various veining patterns emerge. An area may call out to be textured with hand chiseling, or smoothed with power tools. The tactile quality of the smooth cool marble is one of the many pleasures of sculpting in stone.

How does your different practices influence each other and how is your life intertwined in the mix?

All of the different creative avenues I pursue definitely inform one another: particularly painting/drawing and sculpture. With sculpture there is a great emphasis on form and “negative” space, which I find interesting and love exploring. Also, the line in space becomes very important in sculpture, just as it is important in drawing. My paintings have a better understanding of mass and volume as a result of sculpting. Working in both 2 and 3 dimensions definitely influences my ability to design a space, to see spatially, to read blueprints and visualize a room or floorplan when designing an interior project.

I try to live my life authentically and honestly, with integrity, but also with compassion. A recent theme for me in work, art, and life has been to delve deeper; to edit and focus, to not settle. I know many people suffered during the pandemic, but for me it provided an opportune time to withdraw, reflect, focus on what was important, and delve deeply into work on sculpture. It was a productive time and I actually enjoyed the period of isolation and concentration.

You are without doubt a woman who possesses many talents, one of them being interior design. We would love to hear more about this work of yours!

I sort of fell into interior design naturally. I love architecture and creating a beautiful environment in my own home. Interior design is just another canvas for me! We have lived in the same 1930’s home, which we bought from the original owners, for 30 years. Over those years I have remodeled, added space, and redecorated or rearranged interiors many times. I have also designed and developed the extensive gardens around my property.

20 or so years ago a friend visited my home and then asked me to design hers. Other commissions followed solely by word of mouth. My design practice grew organically as a result. I cut my teeth on remodeling and building many years ago when we built a custom designed weekend house on the Caney Fork River (an hour and 1/2 outside Nashville—you can view under River Camp on my website). I made a few mistakes but learned a lot about construction when I took over as project manager on this house. We spend all of our weekends here in the summer and hike a lot in the winter.

Kelley and her family’s beautiful River house (top and bottom photo)

Presently, I usually only take on one or two projects at a time so that I have plenty of time for my art. I now have a team of craftsmen and an architect friend that I work with that help me execute my visions on projects.

My style is always evolving! But I would say it is edited, clean, warm and interesting. It is layered with a lot of art! I tend to go modern or midcentury modern in lighting and furniture, which is a nice juxtaposition with the older architecture of the house itself. I admire a lot of European architecture for the lovely proportions and interior details and use this as a reference often for inspiration in my own home.

Can you share with us a dream you have?

I am a big dreamer! So this question could take many forms! I think it is important to dream and for creative people to have room and space in their life to daydream. I often find that my best ideas emerge while out in nature—a hike in the woods, swimming in the river, doing yoga on my terrace outdoors. I actually think the day dreaming process is more interesting than the dream itself. To dream and visualize is crucial for an artist or creative person.

Kelley getting ready for her daughter Natalie’s wedding this summer in their garden.

How do you define success?

Success to me is satisfaction that you have deeply examined your own work and explored the intricate possibilities, while also learning along the way. Success might only be for yourself to know what you have accomplished. Success is when a work communicates to others what you have set out to say, or it may open up other interpretations for people, different from your own view. Hopefully the work of art speaks for itself; that is true success.

Tell us what one should do if visiting Nashville!

Well, Nashville has exploded the past few years into something unrecognizable to most of us natives. It is a city known for it’s music, so definitely try to secure tickets to the Mother Church, the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium. There are many great restaurants now in town, but two of my long time favorites are Miel Restaurant and City House, in Germantown. My personal favorite place in Nashville is Percy Warner Park, with over 800 acres of natural woodland trails, right here in the city. I often hike a strenuous 8 mile trail. Another place I enjoy showing visitors is Cheekwood Museum and Botanical Gardens.

From your point of view, what are elements you think we all can incorporate into our everyday lives so we can take better care of our planet?

Doing our part in taking care of the planet can easily start with small things; recycling, walking more, buying less plastic, eliminating single use plastic, buying organic and locally sourced produce and meats, using “clean” skin care lines, making more informed choices on purchases (buying better quality and less items, being less of a consumer). One company that I have partnered with that is completely committed to changing the fashion industry and how garments are produced ethically and sustainable is Another Tomorrow.

… and likewise, how do you care for yourself?

My lifestyle is based on living and eating healthy, exercising daily, creating time to be quiet and still and observe, making time to create, reading a lot—-it is not a very “exciting” life but is deeply fulfilling .

What are you grateful for today?

I am extremely grateful for my family and for my health. And very grateful to be able to do for work that which I am passionate about!

Have you read any interesting books lately?

I am a big reader! I read a lot of biographies and histories. One I particularly enjoyed recently was Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown. I am also currently reading an interesting book on bird migration, A World on the Wing by Scott Weidensaul. I also just ordered a book that I am looking forward to reading: The Japanese Mind by Osamu Ikeno.

As Christmas is approaching, what are you most looking forward to?

I am looking forward to time with family and friends and cooking favorite recipes, many passed down from my grandmother. I love decorating the house with fresh gathered greens; foraged moss, magnolia and holly branches, and amaryllis.

And lastly, if any readers would like to buy a sculpture or painting, where can they reach you?

Please follow me on Instagram to see my most recent works of art. I post fairly regularly! Also, both my art and interior design work can be seen on my website: kelleyestes.com.

All photos are Kelley’s own, and published with her permission.

Nashville-based Kelley Estes talks Art & Design with Estér!