Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsi Harris.
Chelsi, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I always knew I’d end up being an artist. I used to do sketches in class and if my teachers even remotely acknowledged my artwork, I’d ask them for a nickel to buy my work. It supported my pickle snow cone habit for years. I’ve won many scholarships for my work, and I have so many massive companies in my portfolio. It doesn’t come naturally to me, though. I constantly teach myself new techniques and methods. I literally just taught myself watercolor painting in this past month and within 30 minutes of posting it, I sold that painting.
I think it’s important as an artist to try other methods that you don’t entirely like or enjoy. You pick up little tricks from every form of art that you can apply to the next. I’m a single mom of a 12-year-old and she just started showing interest in painting. The beautiful thing is, she’s a better artist than I was at that age. So here is my daughter, my greatest work of art, my masterpiece, and she’s going to end up being my competition someday. I’m truly elated by that.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being an artist is truly a dumpster fire more often than not. Everyone wants to underbid you because it’s a saturated market. I was recently laid off due to Covid-19 and I can’t find a job to save my life. Everyone’s outsourcing their design jobs to other countries. I’m a hard worker and I’m desperate to work, but the jobs just aren’t there. As a single mother, I don’t have the luxury to sit and wait for things to get better. I recognize that I might have to temporarily divorce my passion and take a significant pay cut to do some other field of work.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I do everything from graphics, photography, murals, paintings, making furniture, etc. You name it, I can do it, and I take pride in that. I love getting to help brands come to life. I especially love doing murals because then I’ll randomly see pictures floating around with people standing in front of something that I painted and I realize how much they enjoyed my work. I’m like, “Heck, yes. You selfie it up. Glad you liked it!”
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Determination is crucial to success. A wise man once told me, “If you sit down to dwell, you’ll never get back up again.” Being a designer or an artist, in general, isn’t the easiest job in the world. It’s frustrating. You have to be determined to succeed. You have to be determined to learn. If you aren’t, your ship will sink.
Contact Info:
- Website: chelsiharris.com
- Phone: 8173749106
- Email: chelsiharrisart@yahoo.com
- Instagram: chelsiharrisart
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