CBS artist returning to her roots

By Olivia Bradbury/Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

For someone who has never had any formal training as an artist, Chelsea Beehan’s paintings sure look good.

“I’ve been drawing and making things since I can remember,” said Beehan, who grew up in CBS but moved away for a while, returning after her two children were born to raise them near woods and water. “I haven’t formally studied art or anything, but over the past few years I have spent time honing different skills and practices.”

Beehan said she found herself feeling isolated following the birth of her first child during the pandemic. She purchased some coloured pencils, and would sketch while her baby slept.

“I was able to keep exploring and experimenting with different mediums and eventually started seeking any opportunity I could get to make more stuff,” she said.

Beehan enjoys exploring an array of art — landscapes and portraits, abstract and realism, how different materials affect colour and texture. As she does not have a formal art education, she likes to hear what others think of her work and admitted she still has a lot of learning to do.

Once Beehan started to post her art on social media, her friends began to reach out, some of them expressing interest in buying her work.

“Last year, I started selling prints of my digital landscapes at the St. John’s Farmers Market, which has allowed me to keep going on this path,” said Beehan. “I try to spend as much time as I can learning and experimenting and applying for whatever opportunities come up.”

Beehan was recently included among 113 Newfoundland and Labrador artists who were awarded small grants to help them pursue their art, whether it be films, fiction writing, or painting. Beehan said the $6,000 she received from the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council will allow her to complete more pieces, including some larger works.

“I will be working primarily with oil pastels on wood boards to develop these landscape-inspired pieces from real and imagined scenery,” she said.

Beehan’s pastel experiments can be viewed on her Instagram account @itschelseabeehan. She hopes to exhibit the final project in CBS. She has yet to choose a venue, but would like it to be a unique location with a little history. Beehan asks that anyone with venue recommendations to please contact her. Messages can be submitted via her website, chelseabeehan.com, or sent directly via email to chelseabeehan@gmail.com.