My name is Robin Kelly. Although I’m a Colorado native, my dream for over 25 years was to move to Sandpoint. In the fall of 2022, my husband and I did just that. We’ve fallen in love with the quiet beauty of North Idaho - the mountains, the lake, and the slower pace of life that inspires much of my art.

I’m a self-taught pastel artist who finds joy in capturing landscapes filled with light and atmosphere. I’m especially drawn to dramatic skies and the moods they create - whether it’s the calm of an early morning or the glow of a sunset after a storm.

I was introduced to pastels while teaching art at a private school. When a pastel unit came up in the curriculum, I joined my students in the project and quickly fell in love with these dusty sticks of many colors. I enjoy the tactile experience of holding a pastel in my and the ease of painting with a dry medium. I primarily use sanded paper as my base but as my brother owns a frameshop in Spokane, I also enjoy creating homemade primed panels from his discarded mat board.

Currently, I’m a volunteer with the POAC Kaleidoscope program, teaching art to third-grade students at Washington Elementary. I’ve taught art to children in both classroom and private settings and get so much joy from watching reluctant students grow to love art by the end of the year. My goal in teaching children art is not only to teach technique and application, but also to nurture problem-solving and courage.

In my studio, I’m working on a series of paintings inspired by the landscapes around Sandpoint and the beauty of Lake Pend Oreille. The northern skycaps can be truly magnificent, and I’m exploring ways to capture more depth and emotion in my skies and compositions.