Rising Stars: Meet Chelsea Chick

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Chick.

Chelsea, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Little me could always be found in my own world, creating around the art table at Montessori school. I’ve meandered my way forward with the goal of understanding my place in this world.

Growing up as one of four sisters, I have always chosen to take the path less traveled. The path isn’t always clear, but with each step, I gain further insight into a purpose that feels fitting. At times I can be found shifting focus, location, and means of transportation; blazing a trail that works with my strengths and shortcomings.

I completed a degree in the Fine Arts, but have found that most of my learning has come from connecting with the people and places that have popped up along the way.

With that, life has happened – I’ve loved, I’ve lost, and everything in between – and my art has provided me a firm space to float ideas around – solid ground, when the way forward feels shaky, and a way to face the unknown with a welcoming nod.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Most journeys have a wide variety of terrain and my story is no different, nor would I want it to be.

I was fortunate enough to have my formative years laid out for me, but part of the adventure is getting a little lost, testing the boundaries, and learning along the way (a lesson my parents instilled in me). A lot of my struggles often come from my mindset. In order to break free from old thought patterns, I’ve had to learn healthy ways to reroute when a pathway appears blocked.

I try to bring as much fun into my work as possible, but there are days when things aren’t going as planned and my attitude can waver.

Usually taking a breath, checking in with myself, and allowing a pause from the grind can spur a new way of moving forward. Learning from each obstacle, so that the next time that obstacle appears (as they often do), you can move through the experience with confidence that wasn’t there before.

I’ve had to put my pride aside many times and trust that each mistake I’ve made has been based on my yearning to connect and show love. We all deserve to present ourselves in this world as we choose and offering a peaceful place to contemplate life is something I aspire to.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
This is always a hard question for me to narrow down. Being an artist/creative, you often wear many hats.

My biggest joy is when I am painting, but I also find that all of the different mediums I’ve picked up over the years bleed into my work as a whole. I try to bring as much of myself and my travels into my paintings as possible, while also grappling with some of life’s bigger questions. This often leads to an abstract view of the world around me.

I find that, throughout the creation process of a painting, my view is always shifting and you can see that in my work. There’s often a sense of movement that can be hard to pin down. Themes of nature creep into my pieces and provide a way to explore the different dimensions of being.

I feel a sense of accomplishment after I complete a painting, which is similar to the feeling after a hard, yet rewarding journey; the pride of seeing something through and having pushed through the limits of fear/self-limiting beliefs.

I’ve found that I focus on unifying our differences, rather than acknowledging what sets me apart. I have had to learn to operate with a certain level of acceptance and patience. A finished piece never shows the full picture, there are the moments when you have to face your ugly and you question everything, but in the end, isn’t that what we all do?

To believe that the moves we are making will paint a clearer picture of who we are.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Well just about everybody. I’m lucky in that I have a lot of great people around me, friends and family, that keep me inspired and motivated to pursue my passion.

From the start, I’ve had commissions come in where I was given the freedom to use my imagination and to take a painting where I felt it should go. Which gave me the confidence to step further down the path of making a career out of my art. I have worked and collaborated with so many creative and passionate folks, who have fueled my success and brought a greater understanding of where to take my vision.

All in all, I’m very grateful to each and every being I’ve encountered along the way, they have shown me many ways of showing up in this world and I wouldn’t be where I am without them.

Contact Info:

• Email: chelsea@chickcentral.com
• Website: www.chickwithacanvas.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chickwithacanvas/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6bq8wJcfddIDjSzpXspo6g
• Other: www.chelseamchick.com

Image Credits
Jordan Chick