Kelsey Adams
BFA in Graphic Design
I am an illustrator, designer, and sculptor who studied at Salisbury University, where I completed my BFA in Graphic Design. While at Salisbury University, I expanded my knowledge into different fields such as sculpture, printmaking, glass blowing, and ceramics. While learning all of those mediums, it led me to acquiring new skills and processes. While I primarily specialize in illustration and design, my work also includes sculpture and different craft mediums, making it multifaceted and complex but still easy to interpret.
My illustration and design work tends to side with the more fun and playful end of things. My goal is to create a fun and pleasing experience to the eye and to the audience. I want to keep the viewer engaged through the use of color, shapes, composition, and illustrations. I enjoy creating different illustrations either to be used as an asset for a design project or to serve as a stand alone work. My range of illustration work includes patterns, characters, portraits, and much more. I also have dabbled in hand lettering as well, which allows me to manipulate the letters and words to better fit the design. It also allows me to add more personality to a design that typesetting would in some cases.
Another big component in my body of work is 3D work. These include different sculptures, craft works, and ceramics pieces. One of my main mediums that I work with in my sculptures is metal (usually steel). I enjoy the seemingly endless possibilities that can result from working with metal. I use both welding and casting in my sculptures. Found objects have become a big part in my sculptures. I like to refurbish old/wasteful items and provide them with a purpose within my work.
With the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic, I lost most access to equipment that I needed to continue working with metal, so I picked up some other skills. I taught myself some craft processes such as embroidery, knitting, and crochet. These traditional craft mediums are a stark contrast to the metal work that I previously did. As I increase my skills in working with these craft mediums and metal alike, I try to find ways in which I can join these different mediums into one work. I find the juxtaposition of metal and mediums like yarn and thread to be extremely compelling. Along with metal and yarn, I also work with ceramics. I have recently rekindled my love for working with clay and creating ceramic works. I thoroughly enjoy creating unique objects that can be functional in my life.
In my work, I like to create life in every sense of the word. I want to create a sense of playfulness and joy in my illustration and design work. I love using living objects as subject matter in almost all of my work. I create many illustrations, drawings, and 3D works with the main subject being a living object (plant, person, etc.). I also like to give objects a new life in my found objects sculptures.
