The Ohio Artist Registry (OAR) is an exciting opportunity for artists to share their work, connect with the creative community, and establish an online presence—all on a free, virtual platform! The OAR encourages artists working in all art forms, throughout Ohio and beyond,  to create a profile, which allows them to better promote themselves and their work. Being listed in the OAR provides artists with new opportunities to share their work with clients, galleries, patrons, and audiences. A listing in the OAR does not confer an endorsement, approval, or verification by the Ohio Arts Council.
For more information, contact Kathy Signorino, artist programs director, at kathy.signorino@oac.ohio.gov or 614-728-6140.

2025 Ohio Artist Registry Juried Exhibition

Chad Kettlewell

Chad Kettlewell Photography
Home 1660 Long Rd
Zanesville Ohio 43701 United States Website: Fine Art Photography Website

Bio

My journey started as a kid who loved the outdoors, science, and art.  I ultimately decided to be a scientist and attended The Ohio State University after which I got a job as an ecologist in the engineering/consulting industry. After five years my supervisor and I started our own firm as business partners.  The work was rewarding and included a diverse range of project work, map-making, graphics design, photography, marketing, and various other business-related tasks. 

About 5 years after starting the consulting business I married my wife Candace and we set out to California for our honeymoon. We took hundreds of pictures only to be quite disappointed with the results. I promptly purchased my first DSLR camera and was immediately hooked. I quickly learned my lack of technical know-how was responsible for those terrible honeymoon photos, not the camera. I put my camera into manual mode and didn’t look back.

The consulting firm was my focus and passion for 13 years. I learned a lot, worked with fantastic people, and helped clients solve problems. It was very rewarding. I squeezed in photography when I could. Eventually the culmination of a number of personal factors and the tug of photography led me to make a career change.

Photographing is a form of mindfulness for me. Other thoughts and worries melt away immediately and I completely immerse myself into the process. Photography is therapy. If all goes well my work makes a connection with somebody that finds as much joy in the image as I had in the process of making it. That’s what its all about for me. Its the process of story-telling and connections hopefully bring a smile to somebody’s face that wouldn’t otherwise have appeared.

I offer commercial photography in addition to fine art work. I’ve been a business-owner most of my career and love helping other businesses. I also get to exercise and hone many of the skills that I learned and enjoy from my prior career. The goal that I have for commercial photography is no different than for my fine art photography, to provide imagery with meaning that people will connect with. Other services that I offer include aerial (drone) photography and video, conceptual renderings, custom maps, and digitization services for artists.

On a personal level, I am a husband and father of 3 boys, Henry, Hudson, and Huck. My wife Candace, the boys, and I live in the country in Southeast Ohio. We like hiking, playing sports, and enjoying our own little swath of the outdoors.

Artist Statement

I’m a fine art photographer, professional ecologist, and avid outdoor explorer. I make and share photos but also aim to learn and teach about nature and science in the process. My work captures the outdoor world in detail and at scale — from broad landscapes to the intricate textures found in nature’s hidden corners.
 
I specialize in a range of genres including landscape, abstract, nature, rural, urban, and wildlife photography, primarily focused on the Appalachian Region of the United States (and sometimes beyond). I offer premium fine art photography prints on a variety of media such as fine art paper, metal, and canvas.
 
I bring a variety of science-based content with my imagery. This includes species identification, natural history, ecology, geological and physical processes, practical uses, and more. My weekly email newsletter, Trail Sharp, is aimed at casual outdoor explorers interested in photography and science.