Jolene Kelm resides in Houston, Texas and has been enjoying oil painting for over 20 years. Having a painterly approach to realism, she gravitates toward paintings that tell a story or have a profound meaning. Kelm feels painting pet portraits is very rewarding as she gets to feel like she knows the pet by the time she is finished with the painting. Often time the portraits are of deceased pets which makes them even more meaningful. Also, Kelm's still life paintings can really orchestrate a story such as in her World War I Veteran painting. This painting is a still life of her father, Fred Gamblin, and items that belonged to him. Kelm also recalls a wonderful story told on canvas of her brother, Wade Gamblin, a World War II veteran. Through Wade's vivid memory of passing through Sierra Blanca, Texas by train in 1941 as he was deported to the Pacific, and through discussions with him and research of this region, a beautiful painting emerged. Kelm's brother was so pleased as it accurately portrayed his memory of a woman dressed in white falling to her knees as a train passed through, folding her hands and looking to the heavens as she prayed for the soldiers' safe return. Kelm has painted marriage proposals, childhood beach scenes, sports, hunting scenes, childhood memories, still life paintings including memorabilia of the life of a person, etc.
Jolene would never want a painting hanging in a client’s home unless the client was 100% satisfied with the painting; therefore, 100% satisfaction is guaranteed on all commission work. “I would be painting on something anyway”, Kelm says.
Jolene would never want a painting hanging in a client’s home unless the client was 100% satisfied with the painting; therefore, 100% satisfaction is guaranteed on all commission work. “I would be painting on something anyway”, Kelm says.
