Kelly Houle is a botanical and wildlife artist, calligrapher, and founder of Books of Kell’s Press, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit that works to create handmade books and original art to raise awareness about science and nature, and to raise money for humanitarian causes. Kelly is also creating a handwritten illuminated manuscript based on the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin in addition to a handful of other illustration projects. Kelly’s original paintings, handmade books, and prints are in numerous public and private collections around the world. She is currently developing a pilot art and science program to help create Monarch butterfly habitats as teaching gardens in schools. Listen in to learn about: Her love of learning and how that helped her get to where she is now All of her diverse interests Her paintings and how she takes the time to get the details right Why she has chosen botanicals as her focus and what that brings to her art What a botanical artist is, and how they try to capture what makes plants unique A little history on botanical art and why she thinks we are in the midst of a new renaissance in botanical art Illuminated books with the use of metals in their artwork Her handwritten illuminated manuscript based on the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin and the adventure she is experiencing How you can get some of her artwork Her monarch butterfly habitat garden and her work with her local elementary school to educate and inspire and much more... Go to our Podcast page at www.urbanfarm.org/blog/podcast/ to find photos, links, and more information on this podcast, as well as for each of our other great guest interviews.  You can also sign up for weekly email summaries of the interviews.