Artist Bio

Chantel was born in Glendale California, a first generation American from a family of ex-Rhodesians.  Her family moved to Oregon when she was eight, and she spent much of her childhood exploring the outdoors, catching insects, and observing the wildlife. While attending a science and computer centered alternative high school, her art was limited to dissection drawings and microscope illustrations.  To this day that scientific aesthetic is noticeable in her artwork.  After high school Chantel enrolled at Oregon State University, and although she started with a focus on biology and science, she ended her time in college with a Bachelor of Science in Fine Arts and a minor in Creative Writing.  It was during college that she discovered her love of teaching while working as an art instructor at a local day camp, and started forming plans to become a high school art teacher.  After graduating college she moved to South Korea with the man that is now her husband, and lived there for a year teaching English and traveling around Asia.  Since moving back to the States Chantel has earned her Master of Arts in Teaching and teaching license, only to discover that art positions are hard to come by for new teachers in this economy.   She is currently developing an initial show resume at the local level, and is working to find a future balance between art and teaching.