Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Paulus
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My passion for both writing and illustrating started when I was 10-years-old. I picked up some pencils, some sketchpads, some “How to Draw” books and journals. Over the years, my art career has greatly evolved, while my passion for writing kind of lurked behind the scenes. It wasn’t until I spent the past few years reading to my two-year-old son where my passion was ignited to combine my love for writing and illustrating leading me to publish my first children’s picture book.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like most creatives, trying to combine passion with business has been rocky. Through my art career, when I was working freelance years ago, I struggled with work-life balance which lead to burnout. I then got into a great routine once I was working my full-time corporate job again and being selective of what commissions or projects I was willing to take, and mainly focusing on art shows. More recently with my new venture with my debut children’s book, the challenge has certainly been juggling my full-time corporate job and a toddler while writing, illustrating, formatting, and marketing. I am a one woman show balancing everything. It comes with a lot of late nights and I am certainly moving slower than I would like…But, I truly fell in love with the process so I am willing to work these 12 hour days and work toward my goals as an author-illustrator.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Locally, here in San Diego, I am one of the few scratchboard artists with subject focus namely on wildlife and portraiture. Scratchboard is a very unique medium which is made of a wood panel, coated with a light layer of white clay, covered in black India Ink. I use tools such as X-ACTO knives, sandpaper, tattoo needles, and fiberglass brushes to etch away the black ink to reveal the white clay underneath. People are drawn to its uniqueness and I love performing live art at the ArtWalks which hooks people in. I almost sold out at my last show which was any artists dream, but now I am taking quite a while to come up with inventory for another show as I work through my children’s book publishing journey. Although scratchboard is slow moving at the moment, I am excited to be building my brand as an author-illustrator here in San Diego and I will be looking forward to live events.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love meeting new people and networking with other creatives. I am always available through social media or by email. The most support I need right now is for as many people as possible to join my launch team for my book release which can be found through my website.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://booksbychelseapaulus.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelsea_ayna_art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/booksbychelseap/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9hn_VxawTkxLusNInqbo1g
Image Credits
Melyssa Gonzalez
