Richmond  Irwin Kelsey was born in San Diego, California on May 3, 1905.  He studied at the Otis Art Institute; Santa Barbara School; and Los Angeles Art Center School as well as studying woodcut with Frank Morley Fletcher. He was a member of the California Watercolor Society and was awarded the bronze medal in the San Diego Expo, 1935. He instructed at the Santa Barbara School 1935-37,

He began painting and exhibiting watercolors, and oils, while studying at the LA Art Center School. He taught art at the Santa Barbara Art School in the 1930's. He was an Art Director at the Walt Disney Studios from 1938-1950. In addition to his animation work for Disney, Kelsey produced illustrations for a series of Golden Books. He also wrote and illustrated a popular children's book, "Good Enough Gismo".

Kelsey was also a member of the San Diego Artist's Guild, Santa Barbara Art League, and the California Printmakers Society. He exhibited his works at the California State Fair, the San Diego Exposition in 1935, San Diego Fine Art Society (now the San Museum of Art), and the Smithsonian Institute.

Richmond Kelsey died in Oxnard, California on May 3, 1987 (his birthday!). Credit: Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940" Gordon McClelland,"The California Style" Peter Falk, "Who Was Who In American Art"