For Hingham-based artist Jen Kelly, painting has always been part of her soul. “When I was thirteen, there was an oil painting class down the street from me in this building called The Old Fire House. I took the class and I literally have never stopped oil painting since. I became my teacher’s assistant after my first class. I would follow her around and I loved every minute of it. That was it for me,” Kelly explains. “There is something about the oil paint, the texture and the using of the knife that I just love,” she continues. Today, Kelly’s work embodies the joy she experiences in nature, which she translates into art.

After studying psychology at Boston College and landing a career in social work, life brought Kelly back to painting after having children. While raising her kids, she painted at home and took classes at night. “It kept me on the path. I studied under a lot of really talented people who taught me to be expressive and use color. It was then I realized I was doing the right thing,” she shares. Since then, galleries along the East Coast have approached Kelly to represent her work, including the Chapman Art Gallery in Cotuit, Solace Studio + Gallery in Surf City, New Jersey, and Main Street Gallery in Manasquan, New Jersey. 

From tranquil beachside tones to more whimsical, colorful pieces, Kelly’s art knows no limits. She considers herself a contemporary impressionist, transforming the magic of her vision on canvas. Most recently, her Beach Peeps and Beach Bums series have...