Frank Kelley Jr. is emphatic about a mission he has: to leave behind a legacy that made a difference.

Visible legacy: Artist Frank Kelley Jr. teaches children to value their roots

Frank Kelley Jr. is emphatic about a mission he has: to leave behind a legacy that made a difference. We're going to die, and what we do before that is all that matters here," the artist said. "So whatever I've done from the time I was born to the time I leave here is what matters here."

One way the West Monroe resident looks to leave a legacy is by reaching out to area schoolchildren, helping them explore their potential through his Youth Arts Initiative Program.

"My arts initiative program has developed into something awesome," Kelley said. "I go into schools and work with children; I've done several of those."

Kelley started the program in 2001, looking for it to serve as a motivational, encouragement tool for children as they learn about art.

"This has been probably the highlight of what's been going on in my career the last two to three years, developing the art initiative program," he said.

To Kelley, importance lies in the ability to observe what's around you.

"In my arts initiative program, I teach them to work with texture, to see things that are right in front of them and not look so far away," he said. "A lot of your answers are right in front of you, and that's what I teach in my arts initiative program."

The creator of Creative Paintings, Inc., Kelley is a full-time artist.

Though he is often flying to cities around the country showing his work, Kelley is not one to forget his roots. The core subjects of his paintings won't let him.

"No matter where I go, wherever I am, I'm taking Northeast Louisiana with me," he said. "They ask me, 'Where are you from?' and I'm happy to say I'm from Monroe-West Monroe."

Kelley was raised in Jackson and Lincoln parishes, and rural life is more often than not the basis of his work.

"The paintings that you see are going to identify the environment in which I grew up in, and also the people within the community," Kelley said.

Kelley was recently one of 25 artists featured in "Colors to Life Beautiful," an exhibit in conjunction with the production of "The Color Purple." Kelley's work was shown in Los Angeles at 626 Art Gallery at Studio B for two months.

"The piece shown in (conjunction with) 'The Color Purple' is called 'Survivor,'" Kelley said.

The painting features a person and what was once a safe house in Jackson Parish.

Kelley also recently showed work at the Meadows Museum of Art in Shreveport, and he was the featured artist at the Juneteenth Heritage Festival in Grambling.

Much of his work is done one-on-one with individual clients, he said.

Linda and David Whitaker, from Detroit, Mich., discovered Kelley's work around four years ago, and have since obtained some of his pieces.

"I like the feeling that (his work) gives you; it's emotional," Linda Whitaker said. "It's really strong, colorful and you have a sense of power."