We recently connected with Connley Sewalls and have shared our conversation below.
Connley, 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?
My creativity is an integral part of me that needs to be nurtured like any other skill. I believe it is rooted in routine and expression. Since childhood, I have always found ways to express myself. From kindergarten to 5th grade, I attended a catholic school with a strict uniform policy. I despised the uniform: navy, white, ankle-covering socks, belts, and NO COLOR! I was dying to wear my vivid, sparkly (and slightly ridiculous) outfits. My solution was to break the dress code in loopholes. I wore two different colored shoes, duct tape bows I made, and painted my nails with wild designs. As anyone, myself included, evolves into adulthood, it’s easy to lose the parts of us that once flourished as a child. For me, it’s essential to my creativity to continue to stay in touch with the expressive child I once was. I keep my creativity alive by fostering my self-expression and creative routine. I invest myself into curating a space I enjoy living in, dressing as my most authentic self, and playing in my illustration practice. The ritual and repetition of making is the only thing that guarantees I’ll be excited to create in the future. I have to water my creative plant or else it shrivels. Even when I am feeling glum or unmotivated, nothing makes me excited like creating anything that young Connley would be proud of.
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?
My approach to illustration is driven by a sense of curiosity and a desire to play. My illustration is expressive, vivid, and topical. I’m passionate about creating art that is both visually stimulating and emotionally intriguing. I love to address larger social and political topics in a visually beautiful way. I work mostly in three illustration markets: publishing, editorial, and advertising. I enjoy working traditionally and manipulating the work digitally. I use gouache, paint markers, colored pencils, and anything else I can get my hands on.
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?
The three most impactful skills for my journey have been routine, organization, and play. Pushing myself to create regularly has been the most accelerating agent in developing myself as an artist. After years of on-and-off sketch booking, I started working in a sketchbook every day when I was a freshman in college. I found that the regularity allowed me to make real progress in developing my voice and illustration style. Not only did the drawing practice improve my technical ability, but it also allowed me to retrospectively find patterns and signatures of my style. And there’s something so sentimental about looking back at my sketchbooks.
Although it seems mundane, I must say that organization has been a pillar in allowing me to create. I stay organized with to-do lists, calendars, preplanning, and routine cleaning. I find that when my ducks aren’t in a row it’s challenging to create work with a clear head. For me, doing the housekeeping allows for more success when I’m working.
Above all, the most important skill for me has been playing in my work. I value my illustration’s expressive quality, and the best way I can achieve that is to push myself out of my comfort zone and experiment. That often looks like trying a new medium, playing a drawing game, or scrubbing a rusty steel sponge into my sketchbook and drawing on top of it. The more out there, the more revolutionary it could be! I always find that when I tinker with the unknown, I discover a new aspect of my work that excites me. Then it becomes a cycle: play, create, satisfaction, motivation, repeat!
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents, Andra and Travis, did for me was take me to the library. My mom, who has her masters in library science, was a big believer in reading. Every week, we went to the library, and I chose any books I wanted. I always gravitated to the illustrations of the children’s books. Each night, she read me one. This was integral in developing my interest in visual art and strengthening my imagination. I am so thankful to my parents for doing this. They have always been incredibly supportive of me. Not only by providing me with art supplies but also by encouraging me to pursue my passion. My parents are creative, smart, and disciplined people, and I have always looked up to them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.connley.art/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connley.art
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connley-sewalls-bbb8112a0/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
