Meet Keslie Nelson

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Keslie Nelson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Keslie below.

Keslie, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

I’ve always considered myself a creative person, but I’ve noticed that maintaining creativity becomes more challenging as I’ve grown older. With the increasing responsibilities that come with maturity, finding time to be creative can be difficult. Many people, myself included, often feel drained after daily tasks, leading to a tendency to relax rather than actively engage in creative activities.

Creativity, however, requires effort—it involves thinking, doing, and problem-solving, all of which demand energy. I’ve kept my creativity alive through sculpture and digital design, which bring me immense joy. Enjoying what you create makes it easier to stay creative. While all artists experience art blocks, it’s crucial to engage in activities that reignite your passion and spark new ideas.

I go through cycles where I struggle with making art and that causes me to take breaks from time to time, but whenever I return to it, the passion and love for creating always come back. Although, I’ve found that my creative motivation tends to wane when working on commissioned pieces. When creativity is expected, it sometimes feels forced and limited. This has led me to accept fewer commissions and focus more on creating what I genuinely enjoy. A professor once advised me, “Make what you want to make, not what will sell. What you want to make will sell eventually.”

This idea might seem contrary to traditional business logic, but I believe it’s essential for all artists to consider. Creativity can’t be demanded; it needs to be nurtured. Interestingly, I’ve noticed that my non-commissioned pieces often turn out perfectly on the first attempt, while commissions sometimes require multiple tries. I attribute this to the difference in passion and creativity I feel when working on commissions versus personal projects.

I’m still learning to balance these aspects, and I may end up holding onto my work until it eventually sells, but at least I’ll remain true to my creativity.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Hello! I am Keslie Love Nelson. I’m a young artist from southern Utah who has developed my own unique art style. I use wire and driftwood to create 3D sculptures. I am always looking for new and creative mediums to sculpt with. My art is modern, realistic, and simple, and revolves around the theme of the wild west. My style led me to name my business name, “Wild Wired West.” I enjoy sculpting beautiful animals that I admire.

My love for art started when I was just a little girl. I grew up in a loving, supportive family, where I developed my artistic eye and a desire to create. It wasn’t until highschool in a sculpture class that I really began to branch out into my current style. The class was focused on creating a portfolio of about 15 different art pieces, all part of a specific theme. This is where I decided to experiment with wire as a medium for my art. Wire was tricky at first, causing my hands to get cuts, blisters, and eventually calluses. Soon after, wire sculpting became natural for me and my abilities began to grow.

Today, I sculpt a wide variety of animals and other unique pieces. My work is featured in several galleries and shops in my hometown of southern Utah, and I am always looking for ways to continue spreading my art. I love to mentor young children in art classes, helping and inspiring them to explore many different art styles. Seeing their progress and creativity always brings me joy and I hope to continue to help them as my mentors helped me develop as an artist.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

What makes art truly “Art”? After years of learning and practice, I’ve identified a few key principles that are fundamental to creating impactful art. Since middle school, I’ve taken a variety of art classes, and while they each offered different insights, they all emphasized the importance of certain principles. The ones I find most crucial are character, repetition, and balance. These elements significantly influence the quality and appeal of my sculptures.

I remember a high school teacher once critiqued a sculpture of mine, saying it lacked “character.” At first, I didn’t fully grasp what was meant by that. Now, character has become my favorite principle of art. It gives an artwork purpose, motion, and life. Ironically, it’s the principle I sometimes overlook, which can leave my sculptures feeling lifeless and dull. Achieving character in every piece will likely be a constant challenge, but it’s essential. Adding character infuses emotion into your work and engages a broader audience. The most famous and impressive artworks all possess strong character.

Recently, I finished reading *Minerva*, a book about an artist’s journey and the life lessons she learned while becoming a renowned Western artist known for her religious murals. One significant takeaway from the book was the importance of unity. A professor critiqued the artist, suggesting that her paintings needed to be unified so that every brushstroke complemented the others and conveyed the same message. Like character, each of her paintings required a cohesive theme, which needed to be reflected in every detail. I find this principle of unity to be equally important in my work.

I also pair the principles of balance and proportion together because they are closely related. Both are crucial in my work as I strive to sculpt animals realistically. Sculptures that are unintentionally disproportionate or unbalanced can appear unattractive or odd to viewers. An artist needs a keen eye for balance and proportion to create a beautiful piece. This skill, which experienced artists often possess, adds prestige to their work. While I won’t claim to be perfect in these areas, I do take pride in my ability to accurately recreate references with proper proportion and balance. It’s a skill I’ve developed over many years of practice and observation.

In conclusion, understanding and applying the principles of character, balance, repetition, and unity are fundamental to creating meaningful and impactful art. These elements not only guide my work but also challenge me to continually improve. As I strive to bring life and coherence to my sculptures, I am reminded that true artistry lies in the mastery of these principles, making each piece unique with purpose and emotion.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

I am thankful for my wonderful parents, who provided me with opportunities from a young age to develop my interests and skills. Their encouragement and willingness to enroll me in extracurricular activities have allowed me to grow my talents and passion for being involved. Both of my parents have supported my love for art by showing interest in my finished work and attending my events. Their experience and unwavering support have always been there when I needed it. They are truly the best, and I aspire to be as loving and encouraging to others as they have been to me.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photos taken by Pyper Nelson Photography
https://www.instagram.com/pypers_pics?igsh=Nmx0Nmh4M3Fjazh1

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