moms you should meet: Kelli Murray

Photography by Small Fry contributor Eliza J Photography.

One of our California trip stops was to see San Diego based artist Kelli Murray. We had been developing a major collective crush and knew we wanted to learn more about Kelli’s life as an artist and mama.

We grabbed lunch and talked about what most working mothers talk about — work and family — and how to happily navigate the two.

Kelli’s artistic career led her to being a designer for California based clothing company, Jedidiah. Working crazy long hours, but loving the ability to express herself creatively, she then married and settled down in San Diego. It wasn’t until Kelli became pregnant with her little girl Rylee that she really thought about what she wanted for her life and how to achieve it.

While we hear often that family can throw a wrench in the progression of your career, it was Kelli’s family itself that inspired her to go after it.

She knew she couldn’t put in those crazy designer hours and be with Rylee the way she wanted to be, so she scaled way back and took a leap of faith and started selling her art online.

Now a full-time mom AND full-time artist under her own name, we couldn’t be happier for Kelli’s success! Here’s a sampling of some of our favorite Kelli Murray’s art all found at her website here.

We just love Kelli and are so inspired by her story of motherhood enhancing and propelling her dreams. See more of Kelli at her website, Twitter (@kellimurrayart), and Instagram (@kelli_murray.)