Today we’d like to introduce you to Rochelle Wellhausen-Grimm.
Hi Rochelle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been creating my whole life—moving from childhood sketches on homework to sculpture, furniture making, and painting. Originally from Richfield, Idaho (near Craters of the Moon), I now live in Lakeland, Tennessee, with my family, a cat, and a dog.
Having lived across the country, my work is deeply inspired by the American landscape. I paint to capture those awe-inspiring moments—like morning light piercing through trees or distant hills fleeting past a car window—where the stress of the world simply melts away.
My Journey into Oils
For years, I was a die-hard acrylic and graphite artist. That changed a few of years ago when my best friend dragged me to a living-room paint night to follow along with a Bob Ross video. I hadn’t touched oil paint in 15 years, but that single night sparked something new.
I have since moved to solely oil painting and love every minute of it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The only challenge I have faced is finding time in my busy schedule between a full time job and family obligations.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a fine artist specializing in realistic animal and landscape paintings, and I’m probably best known for the level of photorealism I bring to the canvas. What I’m most proud of, honestly, is a personal breakthrough: after avoiding oil paints for fifteen years, I pushed past my comfort zone, tried them again, and absolutely fell in love with the medium. What sets me apart is my intense drive to experiment. Because I’ve worked in everything from sculpture to furniture making, I have a deep knowledge of materials that I bring into my fine art today. In fact, I hand-craft a custom wood frame for every single painting I create, ensuring the final piece is entirely unique from the inside out.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way to work with me is through custom commissions. I love collaborating with people to capture a meaningful landscape or animal in a photorealistic oil painting—complete with a custom, hand-made wood frame. You can also shop my available collection directly on my website, or follow my creative process on social media. Honestly, just sharing my art or telling a friend about it is one of the greatest ways to support an independent artist like me!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rochellewgrimm.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rochellewgrimm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rochellegrimm/
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/rochelle.w.grimm/
