Kelly Gavazza was born in Seattle Washington in 1958 to a musician and a homemaker. It was clear from the beginning that he had inherited a creative flair from his grandmother, who loved to paint landscapes in oils. By the time he was five his parents had moved the family to the Sierra Nevada foothills of northern California. It was there that Kelly spent hours upon hours exploring all of the forests, rivers, lakes, and streams that surrounded his childhood home.
On his seventh birthday Kelly received his first pen and ink set, and began to draw using the environment around him for inspiration. It was clear through his sketches and drawings that early on he had a keen observation of nature and loved to portray it through his art. From that point on he never turned back and has been painting ever since. Always trying new ideas, always seeking to develop his artistic skills and abilities while still exploring the subtleties of nature and always bringing them to light in his paintings.
Although Kelly has had no formal training, he is inspired by such great artists as Edward Lavell, Albert Bierstadt, Michelangelo, and of course by his Italian heritage. He continues to mature as an artist by painting as often as he can, always exploring new techniques, as he strives for his place in the art world.