Community
18 October, 2024
Local artist breaks barriers to success
KELSY Landwehr’s face lights up when talking about the natural world.
Insects in particular, and other small creatures like frogs, lizards and spiders fascinate her.
The southwest artist has immersed herself in nature’s bounty since her childhood beach holidays in Port Fairy, her favourite place, where she explored the rockpools at Pea Soup, walked along the beaches and swam in the ocean.
She has photographed, videoed, sketched and painted the world around her, from the grandeur of Mount Rouse volcano, the movement of water, the splendour of gardens, the local Yatmerone Swamp with “cool frogs” to her beloved insects.
It’s not just the creatures themselves that fascinate her but the research involved.
“I love finding out their scientific name and writing it on my artwork,” the Warrnambool artist said.
Her delicate watercolours are beautifully rendered with detailed ink lines, illustrating her terrific eye for colour.
And now, at 29, her artistic career is taking off.
She has just produced her third calendar, has gift cards featuring the Griffiths Island lighthouse and with the help of her mentor at StudioA in Warrnambool, Kelsy has started her own business.
But these achievements haven’t come easy.
Kelsy has endured lifelong health conditions and challenges.
Her congenital epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, masked undiagnosed autism.
She was 21 when finally diagnosed after moving from Penshurst to Warrnambool.
“My schools and doctors thought my shyness and challenges with learning and social interaction were side effects of my epilepsy,” Kelsy said.
“I have memory problems and struggled with school but worked so hard in high school to pass VCE so I could study at university.
“My ultimate career goal was to be a marine biologist but I was so burnt out I had a gap year and then studied a companion animal services course at Gordon Institute in Geelong. I also volunteered with the RSPCA.”
Kelsy began a marine biology course at Deakin Warrnambool but after a year of struggles, finally stopped.
She then turned her attention to a certificate three in Early Childhood Education and Care at Warrnambool TAFE.
“Although studying was very challenging with limited supports, I was driven to get a qualification and a job that I enjoyed,” she said.
“I also wanted to share with children my interests and knowledge of the natural world and the small creatures that live within it.”
That persistence paid off and she currently works as an afterschool educator on a casual basis at various local primary school.
“My epilepsy seriously impacts my life – I can have a seizure any time without warning; I don’t have grand mal seizures, I have a type of absent seizures,” Kelsy explained.
“And although they cause intellectual impairment and impact my functional capacity, the NDIS won’t recognise my epilepsy as a permanent and lifelong disability.
“I can’t drive because of my epilepsy and even catching a bus is a barrier as accessing and navigating public transport independently can prove challenging without support.”
Once diagnosed with autism, Kelsy qualified for some NDIS support and has found a wonderful direct care support worker in Mellisa Lane.
Mell is also a creative arts facilitator through her business StudioA, and a published children’s book author and illustrator.
Over the past four years she has encouraged Kelsy to pursue art as a career.
“Kelsy has awesome goals, she has such girl power. She inspires me as a woman,” Mell said.
“She gets frustrated with people’s assumptions about autism. You can’t assume because you have met one autistic person you understand how another autistic person functions in everyday life.
“Everyone has an individual neurotype and every person deserves respect to live in an inclusive community that celebrates difference.”
Mell said that despite so many barriers, Kelsy is flourishing.
“She’s creating her own business, getting out there and selling her art,” Mell said.
Kelsy currently lives independently in central Warrnambool with a lovely garden full of insects that she loves to photograph and paint.
“My artwork is focused on exploring the natural world,” Kelsy said.
“I think more people should respect the natural world and realise just how important insects are to the whole ecosystem.
“If you take the time to observe insects and small creatures they really are interesting.”
