Kelly’s Story

My name is Kelly Craighead.

I am an artist, a teacher and owner of Invoke Arts Denver.

My chosen work is heart-centered.

My 1992 Bachelor of Fine Arts from Metropolitan State College was a journey of studies in drawing, 2D and 3D design, sculpture, painting, printmaking and art history.

I was encouraged from a very young age, in particular by my mother, to engage in my drawing and artistic passions and to channel my emotions into my art. Drawing, watercolor and collage are my current favorite mediums of expression.

I am native to the Colorado plains and live with my husband and partner, Joe, in Denver.

Our favorite pasttime together is visiting the nearby wildlife refuge for birding and wildlife and nature photography which we find humbling and healing.

My chosen medium for my personal art is combined collage and watercolor on paper. Observing watercolor pigment interact with paper captivates me and the immediacy of collage captures my emotion, carrying the momentum of expression. I model creative expression and hold space for others while I lead and guide visual art exploration in individual sessions and group lessons.

I practice gratitude daily and am deeply inspired by nature. I am a warrior, a mystic, a guide. My medicine is bird medicine.

I describe myself as a teacher and at the core as someone who holds space for others and allows them to express themselves as I lift them up and fill them with high spirits and optimism.

I began my work specific to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in 2007.

In my 8 years as a Life Skills Specialist, I gained the experience and training in the history of developmental disabilities and person centered practices. From this work, I grew a passion for working with persons with cerebral palsy, down syndrome, traumatic brain injury and autism.

In my work I guide my students in a process of sharing what they enjoy about life, their passions and interests, who they are in the world and how they approach creating.

In 2017, I saw an opportunity to take a leap of faith and create what I had been dreaming of, my own art program, Invoke Arts Denver. Combining my passions I have served and created with dozens of amazing groups and individuals.

And Invoke Arts Denver is growing . . . in 2020 I began making connections and educating myself on dementia and I have expanded my work to serve those with Alzheimer’s, and dementia. 

I am eager to grow Invoke Arts and continue providing customized art experiences to help you Connect to your Heart, Create and Find Joy!