Meet Major Chisholm | Digital Media Arts Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Major Chisholm and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Major, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I have always wanted to be married and have a family. My wife and I met late in life. Before that time I would stay after work, as an educator and work on things. I would volunteer for after school activities. Once I was married I stopped all that. And once we had our daughter even more so. My family is my balance and that is a non negotiable. We have regular date nights during the week and sometimes date days as a whole family. They are my priority and then work is second. I want my family to get the best of version of me not my work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My profession is teaching Digital Media, Photography, Graphic Design, Podcasting and Video Production. But my passion is painting. During my senior portfolio review in college my professors looked at my work and stated that it looked as though each painting was painted by a different artist. They stated I didn’t have a cohesive style. Which I took as a compliment. Because when I set out to do a painting I set out to make a one of a kind masterpiece. And the style may be something new I am trying. Even today I vary in my styles and try new things. I think that is what sets me apart from other artists. I don’t believe anyone will ever be able to say, based on unique style alone, “That’s a Major Chisholm.”

I have always wanted people to be able to afford my work and enjoy it in their homes. I have given away more art work to friends than I have sold over the years.

Currently I have been working with epoxy resin. My most current work is using photos of loved one’s family and friends who’ve passed away and creatively encasing their images in epoxy resin and blocks of wood. I print their faces on transparent paper and sandwich them between layers of epoxy resin with a wood base. Epoxy resin eventually will yellow over time. So, I lean into that flaw of the resin by tinting the epoxy resin with yellow dye. Once cured I use a fin grit sand paper to buff off the glossy look for a matte finish and then polish the epoxy resin with wood wax to fill in the scratches and bring back the appearance of the images. The series is called The Golden Hours. Reflecting the moment when our loved ones pass from this life and into the next.

I would love to be a professional artist some day by working in my home studio so I could spend more time with my family. As far as posterity, I just want to make beautiful art and I want people to enjoy it in their homes. Though I have been in a few galleries I’d prefer the homes of people to be the ultimate galleries.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Henry’s Pub in Loveland. They have amazing food. And they have a gluten free menu if you ask for it.
Sweet Heart Winery is a beautiful location and venue to sit with friends and talk next to the river by a fire pit, charcuterie board and glass of wine.
I would cook steaks for us at home because I can cook an amazing steak. And my wife is an interior designer so our house is warm, cozy and inviting.
If they have children we would go to Fly High and let the kids play.
We live in the Bible Belt of Breweries so if they wanted to drink beer we have plenty of options.
If they are here for a week they could join us for church at Redemption Church in down town Loveland.
And if they wanted to go for a hike we would take them to Dunraven Glade Trail and take a long hike down by the river.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Two people come to mind for a shout out. Vince Black, pastor at The Town Church in Fort Collins. He and I were roommates in college. He invited me to come out to Colorado to help with a church plant. Had I not done that I would not have met my wife Shana and started our amazing life.

Mike Bannon, a dear friend from Nashville who encouraged me to move to Colorado. His advice was to go and if it didn’t work out then no harm, no foul. I just went on an expensive vacation. And I still had a house and community in Nashville waiting on me if I needed to return. He and his family were instrumental on launching me to make such a life changing decision.

Instagram: @creativeliberty & @major.chisholm

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MajorChisholm