When I was a kid I wanted to be a children’s book illustrator (it’s still in my future!). I never went on to formally study illustration but found myself being asked to paint album covers, wedding invitations, business cards, cookbooks, logos, etc.

20 + years later I am grateful to get the chance to bring other peoples visions to life. I draw and paint everything by hand, scan the paintings and use limited photoshop skills (I was taught by a friend) to adjust the files.

Over the course of 2025 I had the honor of illustrating Lindsay Mack’s Tarot Deck & Book. After many beautiful conversations I helped them bring their thoughtful interpretations of the cards to life. This is the largest commission I’ve ever done. This project challenged me to paint many new subjects and try new and different techniques and styles. The original paintings are watercolor and gouache on paper.

Last month I was interviewed by the wonderful Caits Meissner on her podcast- Flowers For Linda, a podcast about grief and creativity. Here’s a little bit Cait’s wrote about our episode: In this conversation, Chelsea shares, with sweetness, levity and frank engagement, the many ways she collaborates with her own mother through the veil. We dive into the “boring magic” of a suburban psychic medium and her uncanny abilities, the inheritance of a generational bipolar diagnosis, and the complicated, beautiful friction of the mother-daughter bond. Cait’s also interviewed dear friends and collaborators Boyuan Gao and Katrina Goldsaito — both episodes are beautiful and powerful.

🌼 Friends Doing Special Things:

1. Sophie (who I’ve collaborated with for 20+ years) is starting a paper newsletter project. I love her down-to-earth way of writing, thinking, drawing. I’m excited to see what she makes. She’s not new to paper art making:

2. Keat Teoh is an amazing DJ and community event creator and has been organizing super sweet nights called Abundance at Juicebox Wine Bar in Shelburne Falls. From Keat: “Abundance is an attempt to create a third space, something distinct from home and work. It’s a recurring gathering built around a simple idea: we all deserve spaces where joy, music, food, and connection can exist together.” Stay up to date on the summer/fall schedule HERE. 🪩 The first one of the season is May 30th.

🦋 Thanks so much for reading. I’ll leave you with a quote from Sun Ra that I keep over my drawing desk. I love thinking of art as a bridge. xo, Chelsea

“My music is talkin’ about being. My music serves as a bridge.. to walk to something better.” -Sun Ra