Life & Work with Chelsea Younkman of Sylvania

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Younkman.

Hi Chelsea, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began drawing when I was only seven years old. I enjoyed creating images of animals and portraits. At the age of twelve, I started focusing on portraiture, drawing my favorite celebrities such as Jim Carrey, Kevin Bacon, the cast of ER, and members of boy bands like *NSYNC, the Backstreet Boys, and 98 Degrees. I became quite skilled at it and received recognition from my teachers and peers at school. I studied at the University of Toledo for nine years, earning degrees in Art Education and Fine Arts. Subsequently, I attended Bowling Green State University (BGSU), where I earned a Master’s degree in Fine Arts. For my thesis series, I created a successful body of work titled “Job Fair, which was displayed at ArtPrize in 2013. The entire collection was sold to a real estate development company known as CWD Real Estate. One piece from that series was also exhibited at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) for a full year. Since then, I have taught as an adjunct drawing instructor at Adrian College, the University of Toledo, Owens Community College, and BGSU for eight years. In 2022, I decided to transition to teaching in the K-12 school system. I currently teach high school and K-3rd grade art at Britton/Deerfield Schools. While teaching, I also continue my studio work, creating multiple series of drawings, including self-portraits and a series inspired by my two cats, Bow and Leo.

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?
For the most part, my experience has been quite smooth. However, I faced several challenges during my first two years of teaching at the college level. It took me some time to develop an effective curriculum and grading approach for my students’ drawings. Once I established a solid curriculum, I felt confident teaching the same material for the next six years. After finalizing my curriculum, I began to attract more students to my classes, particularly at Adrian College, where many students experienced significant success with the content being taught. After eight years of teaching drawing at the college level, I encountered another obstacle while transitioning to the K-12 education system. Instead of solely teaching drawing at the college level, I now find myself instructing various forms of art. My horizons have broadened tremendously since I began teaching at Britton/Deerfield Schools. To this day, I am still working to master this new environment. Addressing behavioral issues has also posed a challenge, as I did not encounter such difficulties while teaching at the college level. Regarding my artwork, I am currently trying to determine my next steps, which has been consuming some of my time before I can create new body of work.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an art teacher with 13 years of experience. I taught at the college level for eight years and have spent the past three years teaching in the K-12 school system. In addition to teaching, I also engage in my own studio work, specializing in drawing and painting. I particularly enjoy creating realistic images of animals and portraits of people, with charcoal being my strongest medium. Currently, I am exploring color more through painting. While I love to paint, I believe my painting skills could be further refined, and that is what I am focusing on now. I take great pride in my series titled “Job Fair” which was displayed at ArtPrize, and the entire collection was purchased by a real estate developer in Grand Rapids, Michigan. My self-portrait series received acclaim while being exhibited at the Midwest Museum of American Art in Elkhart, Indiana.

What’s next?
I am eager to continue my role as the art teacher for the Britton/Deerfield (BD) district. In terms of my studio practices, I seek greater recognition for my charcoal drawings. I am currently applying to galleries for a solo exhibition in local galleries around the region. I hope to include my cat drawings, still life compositions, and self-portraits as part of the exhibit. Additionally, I aspire to establish a side career in commissioned freelance work. My ultimate goal is to build a career centered around creating portraits for the community.

Pricing:

• 11×14″ Black and White Drawing $75
• 11×14″ Color Drawing $95
• 22×30″ Black and White $250
• 22×30″ Colored Drawing $280
• 30×44″ Black and White $560

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chelseayounman.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com › cyounkm
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com › chelsea.younkman
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNmHFOL6sBY