ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: February 2023

With the exceptionally wet weather that our region has experienced this winter, the first Artswalk of the year brought about the unusual cancellation of the Riverside Artswalk outdoor vendor area. January Artswalk would have been the first event with the artists on the Downtown Main Street Pedestrian Mall, however, the event went on with the museums and galleries who remained open for the rain or shine event. February will now be the first Artswalk with Artists on Main, allowing for the growth of the area and connection of many of the other venues. Chelz Franzer is one of the many regular artist vendors that is looking forward to the new format, just in time for her birthday month and the month she has earned the artist spotlight. 

Chelsea Franzer, also known as Chelz, is a painter and illustrator. Her creative endeavors began when she was just a child in a small village in St. Henry, Ohio. As she made her way through schooling, she gravitated towards every arts class, including classes like photography and ceramics. The merits of her arts education allowed her to be a full-time artist and run her own Etsy shop. With her boyfriend as her business partner, they run a step-by-step painting party class called “The Paint Sesh.” When she’s not making art or teaching the public how to paint, she’s busy as a full time plant mom and playing DJ on Spotify. With Chelzart and The Paintshesh as the forefront of her activities, she feels that her work is responsible for making great strides in her career and conjures excitement for where this journey will continue to take her.

It’s the journey of life that inspires Chelz as an artist - from the landscapes she’s immersed herself in, to all the animals she’s laid adoring eyes on - Anything that makes her happy is a reason to use as a subject in her art. It’s her belief that the world is a beautiful place if you view it just right. Why perpetuate the darkness and negativity in the world? For Chelz, her aim is to spark that warm and fuzzy feeling in someone with bright colors and fun subject matter. Afterall, painting is her happy place and a sense of therapy to her. It’s a way to forget the outside world, and silence the mind with beautiful art. If painting isn’t the mode for the day, then Chelz will keep the flow going through other mediums like digital illustration. Regardless, everyday the creative flow for her art is bound to happen.

For more information, visit chelzart.com or @chelzart on Instagram