We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chelsi Rossi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chelsi below.
Chelsi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us 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.
I would like to begin by saying that risk looks different for different people and there are so many factors that have allowed me the privilege to follow the trajectory that I did.
The risks I take will never be as risky as they are for someone of color or someone without the same access to resources that I do.
To me, risk taking is a mindset. I believe it’s the manifestation of understanding your values, knowing what you want out of life and your commitment to getting it done.
People who are willing to take risks have a high tolerance for failure and navigating discomfort. Personally, some of my greatest lessons have come from my biggest failures and because of this, I know that the good things in life don’t come easy.
I think a lot of us have been socialized to consider the worst outcomes of a decision, so we settle for where we’re at rather than taking the leap. But what if we flipped our outlook and imagined what it will be like if it all works out? (shoutout to my therapist for that one).
After years of decisions to stay comfortable, I found myself so far removed from the authentic, creative person that I wanted to be. So, I embraced destabilization: I moved away from home, quit my corporate job, got divorced and started prioritizing myself.
These choices were not easy, but by keeping an open mind and ditching my scarcity mindset I have never felt more creative and confident in myself.
Life is what you make of it and it’s certainly too short to not take risks. Next time, ask yourself what’s the best that can happen?
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a classically-trained multidisciplinary artist. My work often includes motifs and bold colors from the vast landscapes of the desert southwest.
I received my BFA from Arizona State University in 2015 and worked as a studio assistant for two of my professors for three years after graduating.
Going to art school at a major university allowed me to be immersed in numerous disciplines alongside many talented people who were just as hungry for knowledge and acquiring skill as I was. However, the biggest lessons came from outside the university. I learned a lot from getting out of my comfort zone and seeking out artists whose work I admired. Most people find it disarming to be approached and told how their work moves someone else – this is how I met some of my closest friends and mentors.
Art school did not equip me for the reality that most high-paying opportunities require you to persuade a committee of strangers to commission you for public art through writing. After much trial and error, I figured it out and painted murals around the Greater-Phoenix Area.
I like capturing the passing of time in my murals by illustrating different day-parts within a single landscape. These pieces usually have multiple suns and color groupings that suggest how light manipulates colors and shadows as the day goes on.
I am now applying this imagery in small configurations that are made of layers of painted balsa wood. I stack these layers and add shine or matte finishes to push the depth of my compositions. This body of work is my attempt to create tiny windows into surreal ‘dreamscapes’.
It has been about a year since I started working at this scale with these materials and in spite of the challenge, each completed project is a profound teacher and I find myself expanding beyond the limitations I once thought I had with this process.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
A book that has most impacted my art making practice is “The Craftsman” by Richard Sennett. This book is an ode to craftsmanship, which Sennett defines as the desire to do a job well for its own sake. It was recommended to me by one of my most influential teachers, Tom Eckert, whose motto was “be excellent”.
When Tom would say this he meant not only to make damn good art, but to use it as a template for living and how to treat others.
Both of these resources have shaped me into who I am as an artist and person. I’m grateful they both came into my life when they did.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being an artist is the gift of time that I give myself. I grant myself permission to spend hundreds of hours turning my ideas into something beautiful for others to enjoy. By staying disciplined with a studio practice and making it a non-negotiable each day, I find myself reclaiming more time to do other things that place my happiness and well-being above everything else.
We give away so much of our time and energy to things that I think we’ll look back on and realize they don’t matter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chelsirossi.com/
- Instagram: @_chiles