We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elise Mesner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Elise , we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?
Spending time in nature is massive self-care. Last summer I built a greenhouse and have been growing lots of mushrooms, herbs and fruit trees. There’s a physiological relaxation that happens when I’m outside for hours – creating art, playing with plants, hanging with the trees. I feel extremely connected and present in what I’m doing. This nature rhythm has vibed all through my art and has changed my experience with space and time. Nature has brought slowness, connection and calmness to my fruitfulness.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hi everyone! I’m an independent artist: Lellopepper, originally from Detroit, based in Los Angeles. My projects range across mediums: land art, upcycled & sustainable installations, and lots of photography with an emphasis on fruits and organic materials. I enjoy the fluidity of working with many materials and creating meaningful projects with humanitarian causes. 2024 includes my book CORNLIPSTICK (25-year collection of full-on Lellopepper art, and I will be announcing gallery show exhibits this year. Also super excited about a magazine I launched called Aquapricot, which is in English and Spanish, lots of nature art with partial proceeds donated to climate movements.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Staying true to my own artist voice, staying curious, and exploring the meaning of sustainability which keeps me growing and rooted. My advice for others early in their journey is to create what is meaningful, what feels right and truly resinates. Be yourself. I always loved David Bowie’s advice when he said “create for yourself.” It’s a wonderful place to start.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
There are SO many, love this question. Anaïs Nin, James Baldwin, Mary Oliver… to name a few. I find daily poetry absolutely necessary and refreshing so I sleep with stacks of books on my bedside table. If I had to choose one, as an early embrace over my heart as a young teen it’s The Sun My Heart by Thich What Hanh which with the biggest takeaway: mindfulness and putting it into practice. What a gift.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lellopepper.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lellopepper
Image Credits
All images: © Lellopepper®
