Spotlight On: Chelsea Sebastian

Wellesley isn’t just Chelsea Sebastian’s home; it’s where she draws inspiration for much of her art.

A sixth-generation artist, Sebastian’s family has been painting farther back than most people can trace their lineage. But despite being the daughter of parents who met at art school, Sebastian graduated college with a degree in environmental planning and earned her Master’s in international studies.

“I studied things I thought would get me a, quote, real job,” Sebastian laughed.

It wasn’t long, though, before Sebastian turned to the passion deeply ingrained in her roots. She started taking art classes, drawing inspiration from what she saw around Wellesley.

“I was just in awe over how people have created beauty in something so urban,” Sebastian said. Sebastian has painted Applebee Street, where she lives, Wellesley Square, Wellesley College and a number of other recognizable sights around town in her signature acrylic style. She uses bold colors to emphasize the beauty as she sees it.

“I don’t think many people paint Wellesley, and it’s such a beautiful place,” Sebastian said.

In addition to Wellesley, her work includes paintings of Italy, where she spent three months, and flowers, which she used to spruce up her house while she was home with her young children during the frigid winter months.

Sebastian’s paintings will hang in the Wellesley Free Library from March 5 to the end of the month. Originals will be sold for $1,000.

For more information on the exhibit, click here.