Bob Connely was born in Minneapolis, MN, and grew up in LaCross, WI and Decatur, GA.  He presently lives and maintains a studio in Cumming, GA. 

He has painted all of his life, and taught briefly in the Virginia school system.  He studied watercolor as a child from his mother and has a sister in Atlanta, B.J. Smith,  that earned a BFA from The High Museum of Art.

Robert Emmitt Connely, and he now signs his work EMMITT, is a retired Chiropractor, having proacticed for 46 years in the Atlanta area.  He was married for 46 years to Carole McKinley Connely, a well recognized artist throughout the southeast and beyond.  Emmitt has 6 children, 10 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. 

Mostly self taught, Emmitt works in oil and acrylic on canvas and board.  He had his first one man show in Chicago, IL in 1957. His is represented in galleries in Birmingham, AL, Columbia, SC, Union Point, GA , and Washington, GA. He has an extensive body of work of the houses in Wilkes County, Washington GA. 

Lately, Emmitt has leaned toward sculpture.  He likes the small fired clay pieces suitable for wall hanging or table top features.  His style is toward humorous figurative.  Two series he is working on is "The Explorers" and "War Woman".  Some of these are featured under the sculpture page.  He studied under Tom Williams at the Spruill Art Center and under Bruno Lucchesi at The Scottsdale Artist's School.

ARTIST STATEMENT:

"I feel that the artists job is (as Shakespeare said it..) to hold the mirror up to nature, filtered through the the individual's sense of humor and understanding.  This filter is the sum and total of a person's experience.  Art is the development and perfection of craft and the two are inexorably joined."  

                                                   -Robert Emmitt Connely

Recently Emmitt was found at his daughter's loft in Washington, GA making a portrait behind an old vault door that was left behind after the business was closed in the early 1900's.  No, the confederate gold is not there but his daughter has maid service!  Meet Lottie LaBob, deva of domestic services.  "Labob" stands for Laura and Bob and Lottie's last name. You may visit her anytime you are in the Washington Georgia area.  She would love the break!!

THE LOFT  706-678-LOFT (5638)     or email connely@washingtonwilkes.org