One Of Our ‘Next’ Artists Emerges

Feb. 1, 2015

At 17, Chelsey Gleason is set on becoming a professional, full-time artist. "I’d really like to make it a career," says Gleason, a Lake Ann resident and a senior at Benzie Central High School. "I plan to go to NMC, then on to art school somewhere."

Gleason, the youngest of John and Laura Gleason’s four children, gained notoriety last year when her 2014 National Cherry Festival poster took fi rst place in the Student Graphic Arts category. The colorful image was subsequently printed on hundreds of souvenir mugs and caps. Early last year, she collaborated with a writer friend, creating 12 simple drawings for a children’s book. While she has dabbled in several artistic mediums, much of her recent work has been drawn in ink, then scanned and colored using Photoshop.

HOW I GOT STARTED

I was born in Petoskey and we lived all over the U.P. when I was young. Ever since I was a little girl, I always loved to draw. I started getting more serious about art when I was 10 years old. I went to an art show in Benzie and saw some anime and that was very exciting. I started to draw cartoon styles, such as anime. From there, I learned how to draw more realistic people and always try to expand my abilities and accept challenges that come my way.

THE STORY BEHIND MY ART, MY INSPIRATION

I admire those who can create art that moves someone, makes them feel something. Art speaks to everyone in a different way, and I want my art to do that. I want to create images that are visually enjoyable to look at, but also stir some sort of emotion in the viewer.

WORK I’M MOST PROUD OF

I am proud of the painted girl piece be cause of the bright colors This was actually an experimental piece to find a style for my Cherry Festival poster. I was so pleased with this piece that I sent it to the Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society and got first place for regional in the category.

Secondly, I am proud of the National Cherry Festival poster for 2014. This was a project assigned to me in my graphic arts course at the Career Tech Center in Traverse City. This piece won first place in the Student Graphic Arts category for the Cherry Festival. My Tech Center instructor Julie Orr has been very influential in pushing me to try new things.

Different from the other projects, I was asked to design a tattoo by my sister’s boss. He’s a motorcycle guy, so it has a Harley Davidson logo and flames. It was definitely out of my comfort zone. Earlier I mentioned that I am always looking to expand my abilities, so this was the perfect opportunity. Throughout the whole process, I had to constantly check in with my client to make sure

I was meeting his desired image. I’m pleased with the design because it’s out of my normal comfort zone and it was a stretch, but a great learning experience.

YOU WON’T BELIEVE

My dad is a pastor and when I was younger we went on a nine-month mission trip to Brazil. It was great. We were in a number of cities and towns, including Sao Paulo.

MY FAVORITE ARTIST

My favorite artist is Van Gogh because I love the way he saw the world and the way he illustrated it.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING ARTISTS

Never stop learning new techniques, styles, textures – always strive to be a better artist. Be accepting of criticism, you may learn a thing or two on how to become better. And if something doesn’t work, try a new idea. Let your imagination go wild. Never give up.

MY WORK CAN BE SEEN/PURCHASED

Right now I don’t have my work online or in any gallery. Most of the commission works I’ve done have been at the request of friends or friends of friends.