Meet Chelsea “Chelz” Whitaker | Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea “Chelz” Whitaker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelz, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always known that I wanted to work for myself, but I had hard time figuring out what field I wanted to be in. Once I started making money from my artwork, I realized I could do what I love AND make a career out of it. I would still work other jobs while doing artwork, until my last job at The UPS Store. One day a regular customer came in to ship her artwork and I randomly asked about her work and how she started. That conversation really changed my whole perspective on art. I realized I wasn’t thinking big enough for my dreams and that in order to get to where I wanted to be that I was going to have to make some major changes. A few months after that conversation, I got paid from work and I just remember looking at my check and having to decide on which bill to pay. The pandemic really caused a decrease in hours, but I just felt that in no world should I be deciding between which bills to pay. I quit that day and decided to make a few art pieces with the supplies that I already had. Within that week, I was able to pay my bills and still have money left over with the money that I made from my artwork. It was then that I realized that this is what I wanted to do and I haven’t worked for anyone ever since.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started doing graphic design in the beginning of high school when MySpace was really popular. I ended up teaching myself how to design and code and realized I had a thing for digital art. I never got a chance to be in any of the cool creative classes that I so desperately wanted, like video broadcasting or yearbook. I always ended up in the least popular classes full of people that I didn’t feel like I could relate to, like automotive keyboarding class. So when it was time to start choosing a college and a major, I had no idea what to do. I knew that I wanted to work for myself and I knew that I enjoyed creating stuff, but I also knew that I never committed to anything long enough to feel confident enough to pursue a career in it.

I went to college undecided until I had no choice but to choose a major. I chose business management, then business marketing. I figured I could do anything with degrees like that, but I was so out of place in that major that none of my peers even knew we were studying the same thing. I ended up doing some research and went to mass communications with a concentration in public relations. My professors were colorful and lively, but educated and well-rounded. I finally felt at home. Around the time I changed my major, I was a new member of a sorority. We would host events on and off campus on a weekly basis and had such a hard time finding someone to make our flyers. I volunteered to make flyers for all of our events one weekend and after that people started asking who was making our flyers. A friend found out and told me he’d pay me to make party flyers for him and the rest is really history. I was making flyers for different organizations on campus and party and event promoters off campus. My relationship with most of these people gave me access to a lot of events that I would network in, I would make sure I knew the people in charge because I knew that’s who would probably commission work from me.

Around the time it was time for me to start to preparing for graduation, I was having problems with financial aid and ended up deciding to withdraw. It was bittersweet because at the time, I had networked so much that I was getting clients that were based in Atlanta, but I wanted to finish what I started and get my degree. I just decided to take a leap of faith and come back home to start my journey towards a full-time art career.

I always felt like I never had a chance to study art the way I wanted to because I just didn’t realize the potential that was there. Nobody was really encouraging me to pursue creative fields back then because of the idea that there was no job security or opportunity for real growth. I always knew it was there, but I was so scared of putting myself out there and not being liked. I think any creative person is sensitive about their work. I had to realize that everything I wanted I already had in me, and what I didn’t have, I could learn and teach myself.

All those times that I felt like I was out of place or that I was missing out on opportunities to be creative helped shape me into the artist I am now. I really love the variety of life. I enjoy the expected. I enjoy putting opposites together and creating harmony from chaos. I love art that speaks to people and I love hearing the people speak back. As I grow as an artist, I realize there’s no right or wrong path. I have the luxury and the power to create how and what I want, and this is honestly a bigger dream than I initially expected as a kid. I knew I wanted to create my own life, but I didn’t expect it to happen this way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Any time my friends come in town, they always wanted “Atlanta brunch”, so I make it a point to try a new spot each time. I also like taking my friends to try foods other than American cuisine, like Mediterranean or Brazilian. Atlanta has a lot off restaurants that are little hidden gems around the city. I also like taking my friends to do creative stuff like a sip & paint or candle making. I just try to make it a point to show life in Atlanta that the rest of the world doesn’t always see.

My most favorite thing to do, with friends or alone, is going to parks and festivals. I really enjoy finding different areas that spark creative thoughts. I always meet the most interesting people in a park or art some type of festival. I think it’s just easier for people to feel comfortable to be themselves. There’s no rules, just vibes.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Alabama State University is a huge part of the reason I started to believe in myself as an artist. I’ve grown up around all types of cultures my entire life, but my experience at ASU was like no other. I learned so much about the depth and beauty of African American culture. What I loved the most was, of course, the art programs. Whether it was visual arts or theatre, I was always amazed at how talented my peers were. Even though I didn’t study art in college, being a public relations student put me right in the middle of art in a way that I would have never thought would lead me to where I am now. I was really able to learn about the psychology and business of creativity. Being at a university and in a city with so much history really helped me find place. I felt seen and heard. Any creative venture I had was fully supported and encouraged me to grow as an artist. What was most important was getting that inspiration and support from people who are like me.

Website: bombchelzzz.com

Instagram: @bombchelzzz

Image Credits
B. White