Meet Chelsea Tikotsky

 

We were lucky to catch up with Chelsea Tikotsky recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is something that’s come up for me a lot throughout my art journey—and it still flares up from time to time. For a while, I felt like I couldn’t call myself a “real” or “professional” artist because I wasn’t doing it full time. I have a regular 9–5 job, and for a long time I thought that meant I didn’t belong in the art world. But over the last couple of years, I’ve really started shifting how I see myself.

I’ve been diving deeper into the art world—connecting with other artists, listening to their stories, asking questions, working with mentors—and the more I’ve done that, the more I’ve realized how many ways there are to be an artist. You can absolutely be a professional artist and still wear other hats. That doesn’t make you less serious or less dedicated—it just makes you human. Life is layered, and creativity doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

Another thing that fueled my imposter syndrome for a long time was the fact that art wasn’t my only interest. I’ve always been curious about a lot of different things, and I used to think that meant I wasn’t focused enough to be taken seriously as an artist. But I had a conversation recently with my artist mentor, and she said something that completely reframed it for me. She asked, What do you think Renaissance artists were? They had all kinds of interests and talents and still made incredible work. That hit me hard. Now I like to think of myself as a modern-day Renaissance woman—multi-passionate, creatively driven, and 100% a professional artist.

Imposter syndrome might still pop up once in a while, but now I know how to meet it with compassion and perspective. I look at all the work I’ve done, all the ways I’ve shown up for my practice, and I remind myself: I am a professional artist. I may wear a lot of hats—but that’s not a weakness. That’s part of what makes me who I am.

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 Chelsea Tikotsky, a San Francisco Bay Area-based contemporary artist who’s deeply captivated by those fleeting, magical moments in life and nature—the kind we often overlook because we’re caught up in the rush of everyday life. One day while running along the bay, I was immersed in golden light, soft waves, and a sense of pure serenity. That moment struck me as perfect and ethereal—so easy to miss, yet so full of wonder. That feeling is what I strive to capture in my paintings: a reminder to slow down, notice the beauty around us, and bring more of that quiet magic into our lives.

Lately, I’ve been focusing more on botanical paintings, especially large-scale florals that are full of texture, movement, and emotion. I primarily work with a palette knife because it lets me build thick, lively layers that bring each piece to life. There’s something about the physicality of oil paint—how it moves and reflects light—that makes every painting feel vibrant and dynamic.

My artistic perspective has been shaped by my B.A. in Studio Art from San Francisco State University and time studying at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, Italy. I’m inspired not only by nature’s rich colors and forms—tropical greens, warm pinks, and glowing golds—but also by the romance and strength of female characters in stories like Bridgerton and Jane Austen’s Emma and Pride and Prejudice. Their resilience through hardship, elegance, and vibrancy resonate deeply with the themes I explore: abundance, perseverance, and beauty even in the face of strife.

Each painting is an invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect—with the world, with nature, and with yourself. Because life can be hard, but just like flowers, we find ways to bloom again.

This year, I’m honored that my new painting Setting Sun was accepted into the 2025 PBS KVIE Art Auction—marking the second time my work has been included in this special event. The exhibition runs from September 2 through October 1, and all proceeds support PBS, a beloved organization from my childhood. There’s also a People’s Choice Award, with voting opening September 16, and a live auction broadcast October 3–5 on KVIE-HD and online, so people can watch and bid from anywhere.

I’ll also be showing new work at the JOR Fine Art Gallery in Clayton, California this summer.

Through my art, I hope to offer moments of joy, peace, and reflection to anyone who experiences it—reminding us all that beauty, hope, and resilience are always within reach.

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?

Looking back, three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey as an artist are: perseverance, having many different interests and hobbies, and the belief that art is always a challenge worth pursuing.

Perseverance, for me, has meant not giving up—even when things felt unclear or hard. There were times when I paused, stepped away, or questioned if I could really do this. But I always came back. I kept trying to find a way forward, learning more each time and figuring out what worked and what didn’t.

Having a variety of interests and hobbies has also played a huge role. For a long time, I thought that not being singularly focused on art made me less of an artist. But I’ve come to see how all of those different experiences and passions inform and inspire my work. They’re not distractions—they’re part of what make my perspective unique.

And finally, I’ve always been driven by this desire to see what I can create. Art, for me, is always a challenge—but in the best way. I’m constantly asking myself, how can I capture this? Can I bring this feeling or vision to life? That curiosity and creative tension have pushed me to grow and surprise myself time and time again.

For anyone just starting out, I’d say: stay curious, keep asking questions, and don’t stop. If something doesn’t work, try a different path. Take breaks if you need to, but keep coming back. With all the ways we can now connect, share, and learn online, the possibilities are more open than ever.

And maybe most importantly: find your community. If people don’t believe in you, they’re not your people—and that’s okay. You don’t have to cut them out completely, but seek out those who will support and encourage you as you pursue your dreams. Your goals are worth it. You are worth it. So don’t give up.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

Most recently, it’s been my artist mentor and advisor, Marina Press Granger, through The Artist Advisory. Finding her completely changed how I see the art world—and what’s possible for me within it.

Before working with Marina, I had a very limited view of what an art career could look like. I discovered her on Instagram about a year and a half ago and started by watching her reels. From there, I slowly began engaging with her content, then signed up for her courses and eventually a one-on-one session. That one-on-one experience completely blew me away. Her professionalism, insight, and the way she phrases questions to help you reflect on your art career and aspirations is truly next-level.

She has a gift for making complex aspects of the art world feel simple, approachable, and most importantly—attainable. Working with her helped me gain clarity, build confidence, and find my voice as an artist. I even had the opportunity to travel with her and a group of other artists to Art Week in Miami for a curated art tour. That experience opened my eyes even more to what’s possible and made the art world feel exciting and accessible—not intimidating.

Thanks to Marina, I no longer feel scared or uncertain when talking to gallerists or curators. She’s helped me see the humanity in those interactions and demystify the gallery world. I also now speak about my art with a lot more ease and fluidity—something I struggled with before.

I never considered myself someone who lacked confidence, but working with her revealed areas where I still had room to grow. I’m so grateful for this season of learning and look forward to continuing to build on everything she’s helped me uncover. There’s still so much to learn, but I know I’m on the right path—and I’m no longer afraid to walk it.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Chelsea Tikotsky portrait picture and standing at easel – Image Credit: Olya Timoshevich

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