Chella is a graduate of Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. She came to California in 1956, and over the past 50+ years, while teaching, also exhibited and won many awards with her own work in competitive regional and national art shows. Her works are in many private collections.

This Indiana Hoosier is an accomplished artist in various media and styles including non-representation and abstraction, but she prefers "en plein aire" oil painting, working in ag-related subjects that is part of the vanishing landscape. She also has illustrated a cookbook, poetry book and is an illustrator for an international professional essay journal. With two well-known local authors, she illustrated story books for Modesto's historic McHenry Mansion.

Chella was two-term President of Central California Art Association/Mistlin Gallery in  Modesto, CA. She was also President of the Modesto Branch of National League of American Pen Women and Beta Sigma chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. As an active aide in two youth art contests, she continues to work as a strong art educational advocate in various community agencies. She conducts workshops in all art media, lectures, judges and advises art regional projects and exhibitions.

As an associate member of Oil Painters of America, Chella has studied with nationally known artists I. Rice Pereira and Margo Hoff, as well as California artists Art Sherwyn, Brian Blood, Bob Gerbracht, Stan Goldstein, E. John Robinson, Gerald Brommer, Dan Petersen, Alexander Nepote, Peggy Knoll Roberts, Robert Burridge, William Scott Jennings, Gil Dellinger, Randy Sexton and Doug Lawler. Chella is also an

Indiana Plein Air Painter, an associate member of American Women Artists, And National Association of Women Artists.