From her bronze and marble sculptures and paintings, to her interior design projects to her personal style, Nashville native Kelley Estes imbues every aspect of her life with an elegant aesthetic rigor. She has a curious mind and spending time with her opens new worlds of inspiration and thought for me. She is a personal friend--we have bonded over so many things, and a JA client. I couldn't think of a better person to kick off my Women Who Inspire series. 

Where do you find inspiration? I am a curious person and always have my senses aware of shapes, colors, textures, probably most often in nature. I visit museums a lot and study art history. Traveling is another source that fuels my creativity. It is important to always be open to ideas and new ways of thinking…I file things away in my mind and it is always surprising how they later surface in a work of art, not in a literal way necessarily but in some form. It is often a feeling or some small detail that translates to art in a completely unexpected way. 

Women who inspire you: My mother was an inspiration in love and kindness. I lost her two years ago and I think about her and her example a lot. Artistically Camille Claudel is one of my favorite female sculptors, her work is so emotionally expressive and brilliant. Beverly Pepper, who died recently, is another female sculptor whom I really admire; she achieved so much starting in Italy in the 1950’s and continued her career well into her 90’s. She made large industrial works in a purely man’s world. 

Essentials you need to get into a creative mindset: I need time to daydream and contemplate ideas. I usually have my best creative ideas while swimming, hiking in the woods, kayaking or just sitting outdoors. If I am feeling stuck creatively, I usually turn to my art books to be inspired, a gallery or a museum is even better. I do not need any special equipment, or even a “real” studio to paint or sculpt. I make do with the spaces I have. I also find that creativity breeds creativity. Once you dive in and start, the ideas start flowing.

What are you sentimental about? I am very sentimental about a few things I inherited from my mother and grandmother. I am also sentimental about hand written notes that are meaningful, especially from my husband, kids, or closest friends. I am sentimental about places that I have visited and loved, and often return there. You could say I am very sentimental about our home; we have lived here 32 years and our children were born and raised here.

Place that is always in the back of your mind: I keep images and inspirations from my times in Paris and Florence.  I have spent much time in both cities and they never fail to inspire me with their art, museums, architecture, lifestyle, and people watching. On a more tangible note, I always keep our river house in the back of my mind, as it is a real sanctuary and the place I detach and think most. 

Place you long to explore: Japan! Specifically Kyoto and the mountain villages. I am hoping to plan a trip in the next year or so. I admire much in their philosophy and culture.

"A recent theme for me in work, art, and life has been to delve deeper, to edit and focus, to not settle."

Books that changed how you think: I’m an avid reader. I read a lot of biographies and histories.  I especially enjoy biographies on Native American Chiefs. I also read a lot of art and philosophy books. I am currently reading an interesting book on how Venice was built and its history.  But in terms of changing how I think, a couple of books come to mind. The first is The Agony and the Ecstasy by Oliver Stone. I read this romanticized biography of Michelangelo when I was in my 30’s. There are many more factual historical accounts out now regarding his work, but this book really inspired me to want to try sculpture and just the sheer difficulty he faced to transport and carve the David sculpture in the Renaissance with no trucks, power tools or lifts, was so inspiring and fascinating to read. The other book that is again an older book but I just read it for the first time is The Book Of Tea, by Okakura Kakuzo. It is not really about tea as much as it is about a beautiful life philosophy. It made me consider things differently. One other book that has influenced my thinking lately is Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being. I often refer back to it; it speaks to any and everyone who is creative.

An interior is complete when….I am not the first to say it, but it’s true, “when there is nothing left to take away.”  I love an interior to be edited down to the essential and the beautiful. The middle of the road things can disappear. I love beautiful objects, furniture and art…but am equally drawn to an almost monastic bareness. It helps if the architecture is beautiful. On design jobs, I am always looking for good sight lines and examining the flow of rooms and how they will be lived in, as well as where the natural light tracks across the rooms. 

A work of art is complete when….The artist has said all that they wish to say. Once the main feeling or essence of a piece has been fully expressed, I often to do not feel the need to add more or even to finish it to a high degree of finish. Each work is different, but each piece does speak and you know instinctively when it is done. Often, to proceed beyond that point might either ruin a piece or kill the spirit of it.

If you could describe your style in 5 items what would those be? Probably with both my wardrobe and interiors you could say “classic, but with something fresh added”.  My palette is refined color wise in both my wardrobe and interiors. I believe in quality and keep clothing for a long time, so I don’t mind investing more in good coats, blazers, handbags, art, furniture, lighting. Five items that might best describe my style in clothing would be a trench coat or blazer, beautiful rings, cashmere sweaters, comfortable jeans, good tee shirts. 

Fave JA piece and why? I never considered myself a big jewelry person,  I was content with my vintage jewelry that was mostly inherited until I met Jennifer and became obsessed with nearly everything she designs. Now I have a lovey collection of JA pieces. It is difficult to have a favorite, but I guess I do for different reasons: I love the platinum rings because I wear them all the time and they blend well with my vintage platinum rings. But my most sentimental piece is the JJ Memento pendant my husband gave me for my birthday/anniversary this past year. It has a gold inscription inside with a line from a favorite poem. I love wearing it and thinking of the message and the love in which it was given. For summer, and for a sense of fun, I really have enjoyed wearing the Il Pesce Pendant. I am a Pisces so he fits me to a tee. 

What role does jewelry play for you? Jewelry is personal and for me a way to enjoy a secret pleasure.  I wear it for myself, not to impress, or outdo anyone else. I often just wear it at home alone because I enjoy it. I don’t treat my rings as something to only wear while dressing up, I wear them all the time.

How would you define art? Art is beauty and life; it is the attempt to communicate something ephemeral and intangible in a very tangible way. It is capturing the essence of something—a pose, a moment, a feeling, a form or shape, a memory.

How do your different practices influence each other and how is your life intertwined in the mix? All of the different creative avenues I pursue definitely inform one another, particularly painting/drawing and sculpture. With sculpture there is a great emphasis on form and “negative” space, which I find interesting and love exploring. Also, the line in space becomes very important in sculpture, just as it is important in drawing. My paintings have a better understanding of mass and volume as a result of sculpting.

Working in both 2 and 3 dimensions influences my ability to design a space, to see spatially, to read blueprints and visualize a room or floor plan when designing an interior project.

Kelley's JA pieces: Single Baguette Diamond Ring, Emerald Cut Diamond Band, JJ Memento Pendant with Solitaire Diamond, Il Pesce Pendant

I try to live life authentically and honestly, with integrity, but also with compassion. A recent theme for me in work, art, and life has been to delve deeper, to edit and focus, to not settle.

Photographs by Jessica Amerson