Meet Esther Chase | Digital Artist

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

Hi Esther, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
In 2015, I had been volunteering my web design skills to a nonprofit organization where I was on the board of directors. It seemed like a natural step forward to develop those skills as a viable income stream for myself. That year, ChaseDigitalSolutions.com became my new side business. I met my first client through a co-working referral in 2016, and a year later, two entrepreneurial friends asked me to design a website for their new startup.

Learning HTML and designing web pages actually goes back to my college days in the early 2000’s. As something I did in my free time, it allowed me to express myself artistically without spending money on art supplies. As soon as I recognized the creative agency in it, I decided to put my digital skills to the test by completing visual assignments as web pages and emailing the link to my professor. Et voilà, success! I felt a great deal of satisfaction from that accomplishment, especially because it was beyond the standard requirements. Fast forward to 2020 when working from home became the new norm—having my own marketing business literally made it possible for me to survive. Having that time to focus on my business made it possible to develop my design portfolio.

Over the years, I have collaborated with artists, entrepreneurs, freelancers, nonprofits, and startups on a wide variety of marketing work. One small decision to establish a web design business led me to learning about content management systems, graphic design, email and social media marketing, photography, and digital art. After ten years, my business has allowed me to wear many hats and collaborate with talented people to provide creative marketing solutions that are rooted in purpose and respect. Most recently, I have challenged myself to find clients who are equally committed to conscious capitalism through earth-friendly endeavors.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Last year, I incorporated a nonprofit organization called Lovethe.Earth to empower shoppers with the knowledge and tools to make informed, sustainable purchases.

We develop educational content that shows people how their spending impacts wildlife. By illuminating that connection, we encourage everyone to make modest lifestyle choices and teach future generations to do the same. For example, the more we know about jaguars and respect them, the more likely it will be that we stop rewarding corporations whose supply chains rely on deforestation, and start rewarding true innovators who embrace a circular economy.

Starting Lovethe.Earth was a daunting idea. While I had worked and volunteered in a handful of nonprofits in my career, it didn’t automatically give me the courage to start a nonprofit from scratch. I had to get comfortable with ambiguity and that’s why it took two years from the initial idea to formally incorporate and obtain 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Now that this hurdle has been cleared, I feel much better about funding it because grant writing and fundraising are already in my skillset.

One thing that has helped me through times of uncertainty with this project was realizing that my personal commitment to slow living could also be applied to slow working. Whenever I’m not sure how to do something, I tell myself it’s alright to do it slowly. Every kind of work does not have to be done as fast as capitalism would have us believe. One of my web design clients helped me see this, too. Since she is also an artist, I value her perspective and I’ve changed my approach, not only in web design, but in making digital art, too. As soon as I was willing to invest a week into a visual composition instead of just one day, the depth of my art improved. Today, I’m creating my third e-book, and I am devoting at least a year to it!

I want others to know it’s possible to be entrepreneurial in multiple directions. This means you don’t need a lot of formal education to try new things. Learning is an inherently social enterprise, and we can learn new things from one another. It also means that we don’t have to pick just one occupation or activity to do at a time—it’s possible to be employed, own a business, lead a nonprofit, be generous with our time and resources, and take care of ourselves throughout the process. Meditation has helped me cultivate a sense of presence while I work and rest, which helps me be calm and peaceful even in demanding situations. At the same time, my environmental activism has actually helped me feel more comfortable in standing up for myself. I wouldn’t have been able to weather my first 5 years of living in Southern California without the dual practices of meditation and activism. From a spiritual perspective, I believe they go hand-in-hand.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Griffith Park is amazing! It’s easily accessible via public transportation and there’s so much to do there. I love walking the flat trails for exercise, hiking for wildflower photography, and going to the Autry Museum of the American West. I have yet to visit the Griffith Observatory, but it’s at the top of my itinerary. Then comes horseback riding and the free summer Shakespeare Festival. I just found the Ellen Reid Soundwalk app that uses music to illuminate the natural environment of the Park, so I look forward to giving that a try. My favorite restaurant in Los Angeles is The Beachwood Café. They have delicious vegan options and a casual atmosphere, open weekdays for breakfast and lunch, plus dinner on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Not to miss is the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures—I enjoyed learning about the work of Hayao Miyazaki there in 2022.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My dedication to protecting nature and biodiversity is a result of following Leonardo DiCaprio on social media. While I would have considered myself a naturalist through my rural upbringing, Leo’s steadfast commitment to using his public platform to increase awareness of human-caused climate change has made a lasting impact on me. It took years of reading social posts to change how I live, and it would not have been possible without his sustained effort.

Website: https://lovethe.earth

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovethe.earth.eco

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/love-the-earth-eco

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lovethe.Earth.eco

Image Credits
Color photos of Esther: Roxanne Turpen

Black and white photos of Esther: Alta Photography

Lovethe.Earth website design: Esther Chase

Digital paintings: Esther Chase

Lizard photo: Esther Chase