Artist Intro
hi everyone! I'll be sharing on here more this summer, so l thought l'd give a quick introduction.
I'm Chelsie. I work primarily in oil painting, depicting intimate interior scenes from memory.
My practice is rooted in an emotional investigation of memory, desire, and relational dynamics — how they shape and distort how we see ourselves and others. I approach painting as a space where fragmented narratives can coexist: where color and form hold emotional weight, and the figure becomes a site of vulnerability, projection, and reflection. Each painting distills what it felt like to inhabit my body at a specific moment in time. Ultimately, my paintings are attempts to hold onto something ephemeral — a feeling, a touch, or a fleeting awareness of self.
#artist #nycartist #oilpainting #painter #embracevulnerability
It's so wonderful to finally share a bit more about what drives my art! You know, being an oil painter isn't just about mixing colors and putting brush to canvas for me. It's a deeply personal journey, almost like time travel through my own mind. When I mentioned my practice being rooted in an emotional investigation of memory, I really mean it. Every stroke, every shade, is an attempt to capture not just what I saw, but what I felt in those specific moments. I often get asked why I choose to depict intimate interior scenes. For me, these spaces are vessels of countless stories. They're where we live, love, and experience our most private thoughts. The way light hits a certain corner, the arrangement of objects, even the lingering scent of a room – these details hold such powerful emotional weight. When I'm in my studio, surrounded by my artworks and a scatter of color swatches on the floor, I’m not just recreating a room; I’m reliving a feeling, allowing those fragmented narratives to coexist. Sometimes, a memory flashes, not as a clear picture, but as a sensation. That's the challenge and the beauty of oil painting for me: finding a visual language for something so ephemeral. How do you paint the warmth of a touch, or the knot in your stomach during a difficult conversation? That's where the figure becomes a site of vulnerability, projection, and reflection. Even if there are multiple figures in an interior scene, each one is a mirror, reflecting aspects of myself or the dynamics I'm exploring. It's about what it felt like to inhabit my body at that specific moment in time, translating that raw human experience onto a large oil painting. My process usually starts with a vague idea or a strong emotion, rather than a photograph. I might close my eyes and try to recall the feeling of sitting in a particular chair, or the atmosphere of a shared meal. Then, I let the paint guide me, layering colors, building textures, allowing the unexpected to happen. It's a dance between intention and intuition. Being an artist, especially one focusing on such personal themes, can feel incredibly exposed, but there’s a quiet strength in embracing that vulnerability. For anyone out there dreaming of picking up a brush or exploring their own creative path, my biggest advice is to just start. Don't wait for perfection. Your unique perspective is your most valuable tool. And don't be afraid to let your emotions seep into your work; that's where the real connection happens. Whether you're wearing a comfy cream knitted sweater or denim shorts in your own creative space, let your environment inspire you, and allow your art to be a true reflection of your inner world. It's a challenging but incredibly rewarding journey, and I’m so excited to share more of mine with you all this summer!