We recently connected with Chelsea Hensbergen and have shared our conversation below.

Chelsea, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am so much happier and fulfilled by living my life authentically as a creative being.

I tried to “do what you are supposed to” – get a corporate job, a steady paycheck, a regular schedule and worked as a marketing manager and various other roles during the beginning of my career. Every 9-5, regardless of perks, left me feeling drained, unhappy, and exacerbated my depressive episodes. I also couldn’t stand working under fluoresecent lights and staring at blank walls and computer screens all day.

I enrolled myself in night classes at Irene’s Myomassology Institute in 2016 and became a LMT as the start of my breakaway from monotony. In 2017 I started working as a massage therapist 1-2 nights a week and in 2018 I started painting murals on a whim in the house I was renting to add some color and happiness to my life.

When 2020 hit and we had those few months of quarantine, I took note of how much better I felt without the shackles of a day job. I enrolled in an online 200-hour yoga teacher training program to add to my certifications and skillset. The increased unemployment money was more than I was making at my current position and I used that summer to save those checks and create some of my first outdoor murals, as well as collect office furniture and decor to start my own massage practice in December 2020 (Deep Roots Healing Haven).

I quit my day job and haven’t looked back – first building up Deep Roots for consistent and stable income and working on art projects on the side as they ebbed and flowed. We are nearing the end of 2024 now and I am so happily busy with murals and commissions that I have stepped into the role of a full-time artist. My portfolio continues to grow with grander opportunities and my heart and soul are thriving by living in my genuine expression of self. Every career presents different challenges and this is the work I love to show up for.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Sure! My name is Chelsea Hensbergen and I paint murals and various creative commissions as Earth and Ether Art.

I love the challenge of taking your vision and turning it into reality. Maybe you have a specific idea or a loose feeling or emotion you wish to convey. The different frequencies of colors and emotions of artwork have profound effects on our well-being and psyche and I am here to bring joy, inspiration, and exuberance to as many places as I can.

My philosophy is “finding magic in the mundane” – sparkles dancing down the ripples of a river, the way sunbeams filter through the steam of your morning coffee, the fractal patterns repeating throughout our own anatomy and earth, or the complementary colors and textures of fabric, feathers, bark, etc. Much of my artwork features organic themes and patterns rooted in this harmony of nature. There is beauty and connection everywhere around us and art is my way of bringing a positive impact and happiness to our community.

If you are interested in having me come out to your home or business for a consultation, please feel free to get in touch with me via my website www.earthandetherart.org or email [email protected].

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Yes! I love listening to audiobooks, podcasts, and other resources that help me learn and grow both as a person and business owner.

The book “Mural Money” by Andrea Ehrhardt as well as her podcast “Artist Academy” are both full of advice, resources, and interviews with other creatives to help turn your passion into profit. Andrea really inspires me to charge my worth and not only find, but create my own opportunities.

Rob Dial’s podcast “The Mindset Mentor” is great for self-development and business advice. One episode had the phrase “when everyone else runs away in fear, the entrepreneur runs toward the new opportunity” and that is exactly what I did with giving self employment a shot during the middle of a pandemic.

For massage and holistic business advice, I really got a lot of of Mindy Totten’s podcast “Do It With Intention” and Rebecca Brumfield’s Facebook Group “Badass Bodyworkers” – it has an infinite supply of women-led connection and business support.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Continue to fund the arts and reap all the positive benefits that come from public art installations and live events.

Art is not a luxury – creation itself is an inherent part of who we are as human beings.

We all hold the power to be creative and express it in different ways. Painting, dancing, cooking, music, gardening, fashion, hair, furniture, architecture, quilting, whatever! Something you do in your life is your way of expressing yourself and every time we share a bit of the light inside us, we have the power to ignite someone else along their way.

Something you can do to make an impact in society is vote for a millage to fund public art – it creates a positive atmosphere, fosters community creativity, provides opportunities for different cultures to be highlighted and honored, and creates engaging shared spaces for much needed, genuine human connection.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.earthandetherart.org
• Instagram: earthandetherart
• Facebook: earthandetherart
• Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits

Photo credit: Jeanine Krupp (pArt Of Life Photography)