Today we’d like to introduce you to Chantrice Rachelle.
Hi Chantrice Rachelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My art story starts from the moment I could hold a pencil and a marker when, like most children, I began scribbling on any surface around. At a young age, I enjoyed experimenting with drawing, coloring, and painting. I sold my first piece at the age of 8 and in Elementary School had one of my drawings selected to be featured at Atlanta’s Fort McPherson Army Base. Throughout my life, I continued to explore my artistic gifts leisurely, but I did not pursue a formal education in art because of the “starving artist” stigma. Instead, I pursued an education in business and also in IT and eventually entered the corporate world as an IT Professional.
In 2017 I illustrated a piece entitled Drunken Tommy, inspired by the Rugrats cartoon, and immediately received an offer upon posting it. You’d think that would have pushed me to create art more frequently, but my love for art was never based on money so I continued to just create leisurely from time to time. Then one day in 2020, it had been a while since I’d painted and it was an off day, so I decided to pick up a paintbrush and paint. At that moment, my passion was ignited more than ever before and since then I have vowed to never again go so long without creating. I began to share my work with others and began to get inquiries for commissions. So here we are today, I decided to finally share the magic of my heART with the world.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Nothing worth having comes easily, including things we are passionate about. The decision to turn my passion into a business is an ongoing learning experience. Finding inspiration on days when I am mentally drained is a struggle. Imposter syndrome kicks in more often than I’d like. Being overwhelmed with the urge to constantly create, but the inability to do so because of other responsibilities, such as my current fulltime job is another part of the struggles. All in all, there are many struggles along the way but trusting the process is what helps overcome these struggles.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My predominant art style is abstract; however, I also draw and often explore working with various mediums and techniques. My abstract pieces are inspired by emotions, feelings, thoughts, and moments to captivate you in a way that explores your own emotions, feelings, thoughts, and moments. The thing that sets me apart from others is that I’m both right and left-brained. I’m not just an artist. I am also an Information Technology professional, business savvy, a former Podcast producer and host, a mentor, and a speaker.
How do you think about happiness?
Art makes me happy. I can’t answer why, but it fulfills me in ways I can’t fully describe. Aside from that, spending time with loved ones because I’m big on family/friends and fellowship; traveling because I like to get away and explore other places; and days that I’m able to do nothing but relax because I honestly don’t really relax and do nothing enough.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@chantricerachelleart.com
- Website: www.chantricerachelleart.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/chantricerachelleart
