Get To Know the artist behind the work

About You

What’s your full name and artist name (if different)?

My name is Chelsea Watson, but I go by Chelsea Anne.  

Where are you from, and where are you based now?

I’m originally from Perth, Western Australia, primarily around the Fremantle area, but I'm now based on the Bass Coast, Victoria, in my husband's hometown. 

How would you describe your artistic style in a few words?

For the most part, I’d describe myself as a realist artist, but I also enjoy testing the boundaries and experimenting with different styles. In saying that, though, my colour palette tends to hover more around nature's colours, subdued but sometimes with a pop of colour. I do love a good black-and-white artwork, though.  

What kind of art do you create, and what mediums do you use?

I tend to lean towards animals, landscapes, and portraits, and work with both acrylics and oils in painting, but also use pencils, graphite, charcoal, and, lately, incorporate some gold foil. For me, it's not just about the mediums I use, but the surfaces I create on. I love transforming whatever I can into a piece of art, especially if I can bring life back to something that would otherwise be discarded. 

When did you first realise you were an artist?

I think it’s just always been a part of me, and there has never been a moment when I realised I was an artist, it was just something I did, which also helped me get better grades at school for my poor grammar with my ‘presentation’. The support and feedback from people around me, especially my husband, was probably the tipping point when I thought maybe I could make something of it, though. 

Inspiration & Creative Process

What inspires your work? Are there recurring themes or symbols?

I feel emotions generally inspire my colour tones, but life, nature and stories inspire the subjects, and the purpose I focus on. Whenever I step out of my comfort zone to explore something different, I find myself consistently drawn back to the female form, its strength, and the feelings that take me at the time, as a woman myself. 

How do your surroundings, experiences, or identity influence your art?

I think my surroundings affect me more than I consciously realise. Now that I've my own studio space, I’ve found myself exploring my art more than I did when I had my family running around. I’m very much the kind of person who takes on the environment around me, so having my own space allows me to let everyone else go so I can just be in my moment, with my thoughts, ideas and feelings. The fact that I always have a hundred different tabs open in my head also plays a factor in the variety of artwork I create. I crave variety, and you can see that through all the different things I have going on.

The memories and experiences I’ve had have also played a significant role in shaping my interests. I was obsessed with birds and animals in general as a kid, studying and drawing them in any spare moment I had, and our home was always filled with charcoal drawings, including life drawings from my mum’s university studies. 

Do you have a daily or weekly creative routine?

I would love to have a routine, but I’ll be honest, I suck at following to do lists (even if I write them religiously), I tend to be an emotionally led person so I lean towards the, I’ll do it when I feel like it. The only way I’ve found to avoid this is when I've a deadline, which is how I work with any commission piece, ensuring it’s completed promptly or as required. A deadline means I will always meet it on time. That being said, my mind is constantly generating art ideas and projects, but since art isn’t my only creative outlet, they manifest in various forms at different times. 

Can you walk us through your creative process, from the initial idea to the finished piece?

I love these questions because they assume everyone has their way, and that is what they do every time. I’m not saying I’m ADHD, but it runs in my family, so that being said, I’ll give you a general idea of how I work, depending on the project.

For commissioned projects, I will start with the provided references, or search for references (whichever applies), and explore in my mind how I think it would work best. For example, with a pet portrait, I’ll decide which image to use, whether I need to combine some for reference, and how it'll look best. For instance, should we go with just the head, or could the neck look good tapered out? How would a piece look best when combining multiple points, so that it balances out? This is all done in my head first, creating the image before I put it on paper or canvas. Then I’ll prepare the materials and sketch it out, altering it as needed to fit the vision before diving into the final piece. 

For other projects, it’s an idea in my head and a feeling, and I just go for it, with whatever materials fit my vision. Or, if I have the materials but no image, I spend time filtering through ideas with the material in front of me (such as feathers), until something resonates with me. This might involve scrolling through various images related to a base idea, and eventually, an image or idea will resonate, and I’ll find what I need to help me create that vision. 

What’s your favourite part of the art-making process?

 I love creating the final piece. If it’s free painting, I love just getting into it and seeing where it goes. This includes most of my paintings, where I typically do minimal sketching, if any, before I begin. For commissions, once the image is sketched out, I enjoy getting into the details, whether it's the painting or the use of coloured pencils and shading.

Personal Touch

What do you hope people feel or think when they see your work?

As an empath, I hope people are moved when they see my artwork, whether it’s a tribute to someone (animal or human) who meant the world to them, or an artwork that evokes memories or feelings of a moment. As a visual person, I appreciate the details in having a decorated place at home, and I see art as more than just a picture on the wall because it looks pretty, but a piece of who you are. I hope that my art adds to a person's home in the same way.

Do you have a favourite piece you’ve created? What’s the story behind it?

I will always return to a painting I did for my in-laws —a landscape of the farm they were letting go of, which had been in their family for a century. A memory captured, from the view of a walk through time, with references to the growth of the farm over time, scattered through the scenery. This will always hold a special place in my heart, as I have a personal attachment as well, given our own experiences and those of my boys, who also grew up there. I created a different one for us, but I think theirs resonates with more than just me and my children; it's for their lifetime, which makes it just that little bit more special to more people.

How do you deal with creative blocks or burnout?

This is where the fun begins. Remember where I mentioned I have a hundred tabs open in my brain? This also means my creative outlets vary across different areas. When I’m burnt out or stuck on one thing, I’ll move to the next. Sometimes, this might involve different art projects, or it may be in a completely different area. For those who don’t know, I am also an author (fiction, under a pen name), a photographer (specialising in weddings, newborns, and other events, now focusing on businesses and properties), and I enjoy creating spreadsheets. So when my art stalls, I put more focus on my writing. If I don’t have any photography projects to work on, I might go out and just take photos for myself. Other times, I’ll turn my focus to my websites, spreadsheets, and all the administrative and marketing aspects of running a business (also part owner of a retail store!). Other times, I’ll mess around on Photoshop (love turning my kids into heroes or scary characters for Halloween). If I’m completely burnt out, I’ll read books (what I read depends on my mood) or play open-world games on the PlayStation. 

Are there any artists (past or present) who’ve influenced your journey?

I think my primary influence is my Mum, even though our styles are completely different. The one part of art class I didn’t excel in was the theory, and to this day, I still struggle to identify many artists, especially those whose work I feel my art would resonate with. I do appreciate their personal stories and struggles more than their actual finished artwork, if that makes sense; those are the parts that stuck with me more than their work. 

Beyond the Studio

What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

I’m an open book, so I’m not sure anything would surprise anyone. I’m pretty open about my social awkwardness, anxiety and the fact that I’d have a mini zoo if not for my husband's level-headedness. Perhaps it’s the fact that I have to resist the urge to go rally car driving every time I hit a gravel or long, winding road. 

How do you balance your creative work with life outside of art?

Balance, you say? I know it’s what everyone tells you you need to achieve, but it’s as elusive to me as a Unicorn. In other words, I just make it work, and when it’s not working, I do something different. I might get hyper-focused on my work, then it will take a comment from one of my boys or my husband for me to realise how hyper-focused I’ve gotten (or the fact that everyone has run out of clothes), then I’ll switch my focus, catch back up, try to spread my time wisely before I end back up in a hyper-focused state and start the cycle again. 

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not making art?

I enjoy writing, reading, annoying my children, trying to scare them, going for walks in nature, cuddling with my dog and cat, playing PlayStation, and listening to music with my husband. 

The Artist Journey

How has your art evolved?

My art has evolved from being tight and detailed to a slightly more free-flowing style. I’m still very detail-oriented, but have learnt to let go where details are not as essential or required. I have no doubt I will continue to evolve, as I can never sit still with one thing or idea. 

What’s been a defining moment or milestone in your career?

I think the most defining moment was when the first person asked me to create an art piece for them. It’s when the reality of making art my career became a possibility.

What are your goals or dreams as an artist over the next few years?

I would love to one day see some of my artwork in a gallery somewhere and be able to hold my own art show. 

For Fun

If your art were a song, what kind of music would it be?

It depends on what I’m creating, but I think, for the most part, my art would lean towards rap or heavy rock. 

Coffee, tea, or something else while you work?

Sugar-free Red Bull sometimes, or just water. Hot drinks don’t work because they are stone cold by the time I remember them while I’m working. 

What’s your favourite colour and why?

Purple, because it’s passion, leans toward the etherealness and freedom of blue, and it’s my last grab at being feminine without being too much of it for me, being used to a male-dominated world (brothers, sons, mostly male friends). 

If you could collaborate with any artist or brand, who would it be?

I think this will always be my mum. I’d love to see a mix of our styles together - her bold and free, and my mellow and detailed. I think we could create something amazing together. 

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring artists?

 Create for yourself first. 

It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to create for what you think everyone else wants, or what’s on ‘trend’, that it’s easy to lose your voice in your artwork and end up burning out because you’re not feeding yourself. Being an artist means we need our art to sell so we can keep creating, but if the art you sell doesn’t feed your soul the same way, make time to create just for you, too.