We were lucky to catch up with Chelsea Cross recently and have shared our conversation below.

Chelsea, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Painting is my first love. I received my first easel when I was 5. I can remember the first time I was given a paintbrush, and from then on, I would watch Bob Ross and pretend we were painting together. I continued to create art throughout my life. However, there were times I took a longer hiatus than I’d like to admit. In 2018, I had made the decision to move back to Ohio to be closer to family. While I had a successful career working in Visual Merchandising within the Target Corporation, I had grown tired of retail. I ended up taking a job that was the complete opposite of what I was used to, but for the time, it paid the bills. I would create gifts for co-workers, and I remember during Christmas of 2019, one of them said, “why are you here? You should be sharing these pieces with the world”.

I remember sitting at my desk after and thinking to myself, “why am I here? She’s right”.

When I was 7, I received a scholarship to attend Saturday classes at the Columbus College of Art and Design. Still convinced I could be like Bob Ross when I grew up, I knew this was the school I wanted to attend when I got older.

Well, life happened and I went to a different college, otherwise known as the family alma mater. However, in that moment of questioning what I should do next, I simultaneously knew the answer. I still wanted a degree from CCAD. The same one I wanted when I was a child. I was not sure how I was going to do it, but I knew I had to at least try for little Chelsea. After all, it was her who inspired me all along. I reminded myself that I could be 32 with the degree and career I’ve always dreamed of, or be 32, and be at a job I didn’t truly enjoy. The time would pass regardless.

I applied in January of 2020 to be apart of their Advertising and Graphic Design program. While I love fine art, I wanted to be well rounded, and I had previous experience with design from OSU. I received my acceptance letter the following month and I was beyond excited to be given a partial scholarship as well. Then March came, and my job left. I was laid off due to Covid. I wasn’t sure how I would pay my bills, or where I would find a new job but in the midst of all the stress, I turned to some blank canvases I had stashed away in my bedroom.

While I could’ve tried to find another job, I took a risk and continued painting. I began selling every piece I created, and then started receiving commissions from repeat customers. I couldn’t believe it, I was able to pay my bills by using my first love. I haven’t looked back since, and with multiple award winning works in Fine Art and Design and 6 months shy of graduating from my first dream college, I couldn’t be happier. I will be able to paint and design for as long as I’m able to and I think Bob Ross would love that for me.

Chelsea, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hello, my name is Chelsea Cross and I am a central Ohio native. I am currently a Senior, attending the Columbus College of Art and Design studying Advertising and Graphic Design. My love for art began at a very young age. I received my first easel when I was 5 and I just knew as soon as I was given a paintbrush, that the creative world was where I belonged. Ever since I’ve created multiple pieces of work, from custom portraits of family members and celebrities to large, bold abstract pieces. My works are most often created from emotion. I know many times people have emotions they cannot put into words and that inspires me to create work that makes these unspoken emotions feel heard. Quite a few of my abstract pieces are also inspired by a concept that came to me while spending time with loved ones or being outdoors. It is important to me that an audience is able to connect with what I create and it continues to speak to them well after they have seen it or even, has made it into their homes. There is something so special about the way we interact with art, and with one another. I’ve found that connecting with people, has allowed me to connect better with my art and I am fortunate enough now to have collectors of my work because as much as, I inspire them, they inspire me.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is being able to convey my emotions onto a canvas and watch my work connect with an audience. To me, that means I have accomplished my goal of allowing my vulnerability to be shared with the world through paint strokes.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Regardless of lack of support, create anyway.

As a child, I didn’t have the greatest support system when it came to my art. Neither my parents were creative and there were times where I felt like the odd one out, the black sheep if you will. I would watch shows, movies or see things in nature and would grab any scrap of paper I could find and try and draw it out. When you’re young, you don’t think, you simply do. I would create all sorts of things from crafts to artwork and loved what I was doing, regardless of who paid attention or complimented what I had made.

As I got older, the lack of support made me not want to create at all. I had the attitude of, if there isn’t anyone who cares about my work, why should I? This question would lead me to one of the longest hiatus of being an artist I’d ever have.

Until being an artist seemed like the only option I had to convey how I felt. The once blank canvases no longer reeked of emptiness, but more so opportunities. This happened when I lost my job, and was trying to figure out what to do. I knew I may not have the support, but I continued to paint anyway. It was as if I was a child again and creating for no other reason than it made me feel safe and secure. It made me lose my adult ego, and to experiment and play like the young Chelsea once did.

Each piece I did led more people to my work. Each piece allowed people to connect with me. Each piece allowed unconditional support to flow in. They were interested in “my why” and it taught me to care about my work and appreciate being an artist more than I ever have.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.chelseacrossart.com
• Instagram: __chelseaaa413
• Linkedin: Chelsea Cross