by Lynne St Clare (Foster)

It has taken me a week to find the words to describe the passing of Gary Kelley and the effect he had on me—and on the illustration industry. I first became aware of Gary’s work when I was a student. Although I never had the pleasure of meeting him, he became a teacher of sorts. At the time, I was one of the few people working in pastel, and it was nearly impossible to find a mentor whose practice reflected my own. So when I discovered Gary’s work, I was thrilled. Here was an artist who was not only an illustrator, but a designer, a printmaker, and a true picture-maker. He possessed an intuitive command of pictorial design that most people spend years trying to achieve. His images taught me that composition could be approached like a puzzle—every shape, every tone fitting together with purpose. I loved trying to dissect his techniques.

Many times, I believed I had discovered some new visual solution, only to realize Gary had explored it long before. In the spirit of Degas, we both bowed to the same masters: pastel, mono-print, and the endless possibilities of mark-making. Gary was also a household name for anyone who loved books. His murals of celebrated authors for Barnes & Noble bookstores nationwide became part of the cultural landscape. For years, I admired them any time I walked into a store.

Gary Kelley’s influence reached far beyond awards, commissions, or reputation. He gave artists permission to be sophisticated, embrace fine art methods within illustration, and to trust that beauty and intellegence could coexist in commercial work. For many of us, he set a standard. Though I never met him, his work was a constant presence in my life. He taught me through example, challenged me through excellence, and inspired me through his imagery. Catch you on the rebound.