Raised on a ranch on the Southern Kansas prairie, Kelly Long learned devotion to the land, respect for the lifestyle, and the preciousness of tales carried by its people. Her family fostered a responsibility to freely share her ancestors' rich pioneer stories and embrace with pride the Cherokee and Choctaw blood they carry–even if it is half a drop by now. 

Two grandmothers encouraged creating masterpieces with whatever was on hand and never gave a thought to how big of mess was created. Beginning in 7th grade, Kelly flourished in the respite of the vibrant paint-splattered art room. Art became a refuge and outlet through some very uncertain times and helped heal her heart as well as participating in drama and holding on for dear life on the back of her cutting horse, Vernal Sox. 

When a cowboy crossed her path, her knees went weak and stole her heart. When four babies came, art did not get tabled but took a different direction: instilling the love of creating treasures for the refrigerator gallery. 

As Kelly’s faith grew, art became a way of worshipping the grandest Creator of all time. This spilled over to implementing art in Sunday School classes, youth groups, and online Bible journaling classes. 

A move brought them to the historic town of Medicine Lodge, Kansas, which charged Kelly’s life-long learner batteries. She currently fills in at the Stockade Museum in the summer and is a prohibitionist Carry Nation enthusiast. 

Other adventures include a radio show that ran for 20 years, speaking at churches, and crafting a novel. A Little Free Library stands in her yard, and she serves on the local public library board. During the Covid shutdown, her granddaughter and she taught doodling lessons in her kitchen using Facebook Lives. 

A few years ago, Kelly and a friend thought it would be fun to take a “Drawing With Confidence” class with renowned western artist Lori Jones. Little did they know it would light a fire in both of them. 

Using a giant bread board from her great-grandmother’s Hoosier cabinet, she would draw as she didn’t want to abandon her husband while he watched TV. Out of the blue, he announced that he was tired of seeing her ‘all wadded up” on the couch. The next thing she knew a drafting table arrived on their front step. He is her biggest cheerleader/voice of wisdom, and she uses her living room as her studio to be with him. 

Learning a lot by trial and error, Kelly is also a student by drinking in the humor of Norman Rockwell and Ace Reed, the originality of Stan Herd (his parents were her school bus drivers), the classic western techniques of Remington and Russell, the simple folk art and joy of Sam Toft, the nostalgia of A.R. Mitchell, and travel posters of Paul A Lindquist plus a myriad of others. So far, she has received Kansas State Fair honors, participated recently with several

pieces in the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Juried Art Show, and is a member of the American Plains Artists. Currently, she works in pencil but color is campaigning for her to give it a whirl. 

Today, she works as a para educator with teens who doodle in margins and share their masterpieces freely. Cliff and she are committed to grandparenting the Cousin Dozen, enjoying their kids and parents, and traveling to wherever on the planet their family lands. They are involved with Kicking Bear Ministries with the mission of bringing Jesus to kids through free outdoor camps. 

Kelly may have gotten a late start in this season of life but truly a perfect start. Feeling like she’s living Mother Teresa’s saying, “I’m just a little pencil in God’s hand,” it’s simply a joy that others enjoy the stories being told through her pieces. 

And she still passionately believes in the joy of making messes.