Jo Ridge Kelley

Even in her childhood, Jo knew she wanted to paint. Raised on a dairy farm in central North Carolina, she delighted in roaming the woods and streams around the farm. It was there she first developed an appreciation of nature's beauty and a desire to capture it in her art.

Jo earned a degree in creative arts from UNC-Charlotte and afterward taught high school and private lessons for several years. When Jo married Ed, he brought her to his native North Carolina mountains. There they began their own business doing various types of crafts and artwork. Jo painted miniatures, fabrics, and illustrated a childrens book. The Kelleys' business changed to screen-printing and for many years Jo designed artwork for her own line of wildlife and nature imprints.

For several years Jo has devoted herself exclusively to watercolor, but has recently returned to painting in oils. Jo paints on location as often as she can, and many of her paintings depict views from the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Great Smokies. Some of her landscapes are composites of various scenes. Much of her art comes from her imagination which is stimulated by her observation of the Appalachians' changing moods.

For over 20 years, the Kelleys have owned Ridge Runner Naturals in Downtown Waynesville, where Jo now operates her studio and gallery. They have a wonderfully talented daughter and a variety of canine companions.

Jo is past president of the Waynesville Gallery Association, and a member of the Blue Ridge Watermedia Society and the Watercolor Society of North Carolina.

Jo donates her artwork to many local charities and fund-raising events. Her originals and prints are included in many private collections in the U.S. and abroad.

Jo was recently interviewed for The Smoky Mountain News. Read the article HERE.