We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Connor Legg a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Connor, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I have recently found myself exploring a few methods to fuel my creativity. The first thing that comes to mind is pursuing new art mediums. Over the past year, I have taken art classes involving new mediums and topics, such as printmaking and ceramic soda-firing. Through these courses, I connected with other creative individuals and explored new projects in a supportive environment. Having access to a studio with these opportunities maintained my creativity and grew my craft. Exploring online content has also been helpful, such as finding Discord groups or YouTube channels focusing on specific topics. On the down low, I have been learning gouache and poster color painting through those spaces. That is the educated answer, and then there is my spiritual answer: to seek connections with nature. It’s not a rare occurrence for artists to become inspired while being in nature; whether it’s on a walk, a hike in the mountains, or a visit to a local garden, it’s common to embrace creativity as you discover icons, such as a funky shaped plant or a gnarly textured rock. I have found that being in nature, most often during walks, invites the mind to explore and ponder new ideas – thus, it is an excellent method for sustaining creativity and one that I recommend.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am an artist who primarily works in painting and ceramics. My work is often inspired by the natural world and might take the form of a landscape painting or an animal figurine. When I have met other creatives through friends, I have been told a handful of times that they know me from my ceramic frogs. A few years back, I created this beloved frog character and developed a mold from which I could make slip-cast copies. I find it fun to uncover their inner personality as I decorate their body with mushrooms, glazes, and designs. I am pulling together the final strings for selling that ceramic work online. It is exciting to see it all coming together finally. It’s about time these loveable creations were adequately shared with the world. Stay tuned to my socials and website!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
If you have the tools to create and are driven to create, that’s all you need to be an artist. Anyone can create a piece of art, but the most impactful for development is the knowledge or mindsets you gain along the journey. You can see the life of an artist replicate nature, the changing of seasons, the shifting of tides, and the stages from sapling to a tree. There will be moments when an artist is not creating, whether to rest, gather inspiration, or just experience life. There will be moments when you don’t feel like creating, which is okay; it’s part of the process. It isn’t always winter, and the tree’s leaves will return. In simpler words, understand that the life of an artist isn’t just creating; it’s experiencing.
That leads to my other bit of knowledge, which involves the artist’s self. As you experience life, you come across interests you become attached to. It’s essential to create work that speaks to you individually. This leads to the best artwork an artist can produce, channeled through their genuine self. I recommend exploring what interests you and considering why you want to create. Skill will come with time as you practice any craft. Thus, mindfulness of these aspects can be most important in developing as an artist as you interact with the journey.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am open to opportunities involving my Arizona communities, especially those that value nature and togetherness. There are a lot of events that often look for artistic elements, and I am actively seeking those out. If you’re in the area and looking for a fun, whimsical design, contact me, as I’d love to work alongside your project! I am also interested in creating cover art for music. I often let my creativity shine when listening to a good song. I have enjoyed making art inspired by said music, so it would be cool to collaborate with a musical artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://connorlegg.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azure_fire_prince/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Connor-Legg-Art-World/100092367130127/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-legg-418072228/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AzureFirePrince
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@azurefireprince?_t=8VVARWnxBfP&_r=1
