We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chelsea Hart a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Chelsea, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
Time and patience, especially as they relate to my art career. I think the more time you put into developing something, such as a skill, the more confident you will naturally become in that area. For example, a few years ago, I had never painted a mural; I didn’t know how you even began something like that, what materials to use, how you planned it, nothing. But I wanted to learn, so I reached out to local muralists to shadow them; I took classes to develop those skills, practiced, and painted some of my first murals in exchange for paint supplies, and eventually, all this paid off. I started receiving large commissions and working with cities and public art programs, and my confidence in this area became stronger.
Even though I was completely scared when painting my first “real” mural and doubted my skills, I did it anyway—and then painted another and another. Each piece I painted grew my self-esteem and helped me realize what I could accomplish and that I was skilled and capable in this area. Even if I don’t know how to do something now, and my confidence is shaky, I’ve proved to myself that I can overcome that, I just need to try.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m an artist who paints murals and canvas paintings with bold colors and a child-like sense of playfulness. I create intuitively, allowing my emotions and memories to guide each painting.
My work balances inward reflection and outward awe. I delight in small everyday moments, taking note of everything I have to be grateful for. While the subject matter of my artwork varies, the intention stays the same—encouraging viewers to appreciate their magical moments every day.
Lately, I’ve focused on creating murals, which I see as a collaboration between myself, the project teams, and the community. I’ve worked directly with diverse neighborhoods to get their input on mural designs and host community painting days, fostering the connection between art, place, and community.
I’m open to new creative opportunities and love to connect with people who want to add some magical creativity to their lives.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Being able to take a risk, having the chance to try something new, not having a perfectly mapped plan, but still believing in yourself that you can make it work, even if you don’t know all the exact steps.
Knowing rejection and obstacles will happen, and things will be messy. You need a thick skin if you’re creating your own business because you will be rejected. At the end of the day, it’s not personal, and you can’t dwell on the opportunities you didn’t get; you have to move on to the next.
You can ask for help and develop skills you don’t have. If you want to learn something you know nothing about, there is a resource for you. Whether it’s reaching out to someone you know is better at this thing than you, taking a course, reading a book, whatever it is, it’s possible. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and ask for help when needed. People are usually happy to share their knowledge and offer advice when asked.
With all these different aspects, you must be willing to put yourself out there. You can’t be afraid of what people will think of you or how silly you might appear. You won’t get anywhere if you don’t try.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Anyone who values art, and wants to bring a painting or mural into their life. They can reach out via my website.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artbychelseahart.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/chelseamhart
