The Vibrant World of Kelsey Howard

Leaving nursing behind, this artist finds inspiration in imperfection, nature, and human connection

By Madison Bailey

Before becoming a full-time artist, Kelsey Howard channeled her nursing salary into art supplies, transforming daily painting into a therapeutic ritual. Eventually, she took the leap, leaving nursing to focus entirely on art — a decision she described as “very freeing and very exciting.” Now, Howard’s work conveys a sense of healing, offering both a therapeutic release for herself and a connection to the viewer's own experiences. Whether through abstract depictions or portrait work, her art is truly authentic.

Many spend a lifetime searching for the thing that sets their soul on fire. For this artist, creativity has always simmered beneath the surface of a seemingly traditional path. Born and raised in Wilmington, Howard initially charted a course in the medical field, graduating from Elon University with a dual focus in Art and Biology before pursuing a nursing career. Yet beneath her scrubs, an artistic spirit called, leading her to realize that her truest form of healing might come from a paintbrush rather than a stethoscope.

Despite coming from a lineage of medical professionals, Howard's creative impulses gradually revealed a different calling. “I was pulled so much in the direction of art,” she explains. “I felt like it's really where I got to blossom and grow as a person and as a student in college. Science was always something I found interesting, but I never quite got it the way I felt like I got art.”

Today, Howard's art style can be described as expressive, vibrant, and deeply rooted in emotion. Working primarily with heavy body acrylic paints, oil pastels, and watercolors, her signature style involves bold, energetic colors. 

“I love using color. I want to bring energy to the viewer and hope they can connect with the work in a way that excites them or lifts them up,” she explains.

Still influenced by her background in biology, there's a subtle scientific precision to her compositions, with an emphasis on natural patterns and the human form. However, her art is also personal: “I've always been inspired by the world around me, nature, people, and human connection,” she says. “I want my work to reflect the beauty and complexity of the human experience.” In fact, her love of the human form traces back to her childhood fascination with anatomy, where she would spend hours copying images from art books. And perhaps that's why her signature pieces, including her latest collection of portrait paintings, portray women with strong eyes — each gaze an invitation to connect, to feel, and to engage.

Nature also plays a role in her creative process, with gardens serving not just as visual inspiration, but as sanctuaries of creative renewal. Local spots like the New Hanover Arboretum and the Airlie Gardens are amongst her favorite spaces. “Finding somewhere peaceful and quiet is so important to creativity,” Howard reflects. “Sometimes you have to quiet your mind.”

Her recent works, “One Blue, One Green,” and “The Three Magnolias” showcase her fascination with nature and faces. As she explains, “They’re just so unique and interesting. I love creating faces that are imperfect and sort of wild looking.” The latter painting, however, stems directly from her southern roots. “Growing up in Wilmington, I developed a love for this beautiful flower,” Howard recalls. “I spent summers climbing magnolia trees, and their scent always feels like summer. I took over 1,000 photos of local magnolias and began figuring out how to insert my love of color into
the subject.”

This intentional approach to artmaking wasn't born overnight, but from a place of exploration and creative intuition. Because, according to Howard, “The most exciting moments happen when you listen to your intuition.” She continues, “In those early days, I was simply creating what brought me joy. My approach was to create without self-judgement, to explore and trust my instincts.”

As 2025 approaches, Howard's artistic journey continues to evolve with remarkable milestones and moments of reflection. Her vibrant pieces have adorned book covers, been

celebrated through fashion in honor of International Women’s Day, and earned her a spotlight on prominent podcasts. 

Looking ahead, Howard has carefully crafted both creative and personal goals. She plans to explore new artistic directions, including a potential collection of monochrome portraits inspired by a recent commission that spoke to her. Equally important is maintaining a balanced approach to her art career, prioritizing mental and physical well-being to avoid the burnout she's faced in the past. Next year, she’s heading to France for her first major painting residency abroad — a chance to immerse herself in a new culture, paint on-site, and draw fresh inspiration from the beauty and history of the region.

“Art will always be a part of my life,“ she reflects, "but I don't want it to overtake my entire existence. My biggest goal is to be more structured and take care of myself.”