Q&A with Rosalind “Rozzie” Lee, Founder of Calgary Chalk Artist
PHOTO: CALGARY CHALK ARTIST
While attending the Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts), our professors often discussed the different paths you could take with a Bachelor of Design degree. I loved these discussions and they inspired us to learn about how our skill sets could be translated to different career paths. This is when I first learned about Rozzie Lee and how she had found her niche in the Calgary arts community for sign painting and chalk art. More importantly, we were drawn to her entrepreneurial nature, community mindedness and never-ending hustle. So for this month’s Q&A, we chat with Rozzie to learn about her path since AUArts and what the future holds!
Tell us about your background? How did you end up attending the Alberta University of the Arts (Formally ACAD).
When I was in high school, I was still deciding whether U of C or ACAD would be a better direction. I took Art IB and decided that the creative field was my strength and what made me the happiest. Visual arts have always been a part of my life and to have the opportunity for further training at ACAD was exciting and taught me so much in shaping me to the person I am today. I highly recommend the Visual Communication program!
What was your first job out of school?
My first job out of school was as a graphic designer for VoodooPC, one of the companies acquired by Hewlett-Packard. They were a boutique computer company who build incredible gaming machines, both powerful in processing power and custom painted with automotive finish to match your sports car or favourite pair of shoes!
What led you to chalk art? When did you start your business “Calgary Chalk Artist”?
Creating the brand “Calgary Chalk Artist” came out of opportunity. I think of myself as a creative, a visual artist. I have a lot of experience in my younger years doing acrylic paintings and have been drawing my entire life. In 2010 a friend referred me to do a ‘large’ painting at the Palomino in Downtown Calgary of the Old Milwaukee red headed girl and logo. After that my friend Luba who owned Sketch Art Supplies was approached by a couple getting married looking for an artist, and she thought of me. The location was at Q Haute Cuisine, which has a gigantic chalkboard wall going up the stairs to the second level of the restaurant. They wanted a caricature of themselves getting married in the back of a classic Rolls Royce with their dog. This was a completely new challenge for me - creating a caricature design commission with chalk, in the scale they wanted on a wall that was very challenging to get to. This new relationship with the venue brought the opportunity to create chalk art on a regular basis over a number of years. New people would find my work from blog posts thanks to Google, and I had requests to do chalk work for various businesses over time as my portfolio grew.
Work at Q Haute Cuisine. See more on instagram.
Tell us about the types of projects you do and the range of clients you have.
I’m so lucky that I get to draw for a living! With a business name like mine, people would guess that I only use chalk, but the majority of my projects are paintings and illustrations with all types of media. I often work with walls, canvas, signage, digital, windows, etc. A person would have to browse my portfolio to get a full grasp of the variety of applications. I specialize in bringing creative visions to life for clients whether it be for commercial or personal. I enjoy working with interior designers, offices, restaurants, retail locations and everyone in between. The great thing about what I do, and what people reach out to me for is bringing the hand of the artist and personal touch to their spaces.
What are your favourite kinds of projects to work on?
The best projects for me are the ones that are seen and enjoyed by many people – public work that have character and charm. I also love doing work live or with an audience.
What’s the most memorable chalk art you’ve done?
One of the most memorable outdoor installations and marketing initiatives that I was a part of was when Big Rock Brewery hired me to create their round rooster logo outside of Eau Claire Market in May of 2017. It was 20-feet-wide and really challenged me technically and logistically of how to illustrate their logo within a short time frame.
What is your dream project/client to work with?
A dream of mine is to do more work with the City of Calgary. Being a born and raised Calgarian, I love my hometown and to paint or design public art always fills my heart!
COVID Birthday Surprises. See more on instagram.
You have a strong Instagram presence. For someone who is interested in becoming a freelance artist, what advice do you have for them in terms of marketing themselves?
Make strong personal connections and keep creating. People often ask me how I got the work, how did I get started, and all I can say is – work creates work. If you’re just starting out, focus on building your portfolio so people can see your abilities and offerings! Identify where you can make a difference, engage with those people and go for it. Relationships and small business supporting each other along with word of mouth has also been really helpful.
What do you do for fun?
I love riding my motorcycle, cooking, and being a crazy plant mom.
Where can people find you? How do they hire you?
I would love for people to connect with me on my Instagram page, @calgarychalkartist. They can message me on there or email me directly at calgarychalkartist@gmail.com
What does the future hold for Rozzie Lee and Calgary Chalk Artist?
I’m always looking for how I can improve the process and give more to people, while keeping a work life balance. It’s important to me to give back to the community at the same time and I’ve been seeking ways to do this. The past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to coach a 14-year-old with a few art projects and chalk, which has been fun and exciting. Business wise, I would like to build a new website and online portfolio to show the categories of my offerings a bit more clearly for new clients. I’m not sure where I will be in five years, but I know I will always be creating as it fulfills my spirit and brings me much happiness.
By: Tori English and Rozzie Lee