Kelley Shirkey was introduced to painting en plein air during study abroad trips while in college. These opportunities allowed her to learn to work quickly and decisively and to take great joy in painting outdoors in the public eye. After her first career as an Elementary school Art teacher and then a decade as an illustrator she has returned to this early love of painting on location. Kelley lives in south central Michigan with her husband and three young daughters and paints anytime an opportunity arises.