Today we’d like to introduce you to Connor Stelle
Hi Connor, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Well, I was born and raised in Bloomington, IN and come from a family of colorful characters who were integral in shaping my worldview, my interests, and most significantly my sense of humor. From preschool through middle school I attended a private Catholic school, where I developed a reputation as the token “art kid” of my class. The school was big on athletics, which weren’t exactly a strength of mine, so I spent my time drawing and writing. When I was in 8th grade I got my first “big break” when I won a competition to design the school’s yearbook cover. The design went over so well that I got to adapt it into a mural that ran alongside the stairs in the school atrium – which as far as I know is still there today!
The transition to high school was rough. I went from a class size of under 40 to a freshman class of over 400, and a lot of my earlier friendships got lost in the shuffle. I was always a shy kid and socializing never came easy to me, so drawing became a way to cope with the overwhelming new environment. If I had a free moment, I was drawing, and started to focus on actively growing and improving. My initial goal was to be able to draw as realistically as possible, but I soon realized I had way more fun stylizing and exaggerating. I intentionally avoided taking an art class because I worried the teachers would tell me I couldn’t draw the way I liked. I eventually relented and was relieved to find a welcoming and supportive environment that encouraged me to develop my own unique voice. During my senior year I took AP Studio Art, an experience that was equal parts exhilarating and exhausting. I graduated burnt out and skeptical of the idea of art as a job, so I decided to explore elsewhere.
I received my undergraduate degree from Indiana University in my hometown, where I studied creative writing, folklore, and rock music history. However, I never stopped drawing as a hobby and continued to explore and experiment. Even though I loved what I studied, I was never sure how I wanted to apply it, and once I graduated I struggled to find work with my seemingly random areas of expertise. A freelance art job for a family friend changed everything. It gave me a taste of what professional illustration was like: not only was it manageable, it was enjoyable! It made me think that with a little more guidance I could actually make a career out of this, so I took a swing and applied to grad school less than a week before the application deadline. And lo and behold, I got accepted to SCAD and haven’t looked back!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Hardly! My road has been one of ups and downs and countless uncertainties, sometimes with only a glimmer of optimism to hold onto. The biggest struggles by far have been those related to mental health. I was always an anxious child, but those anxieties grew tenfold when I started high school. It took a little bit of trial and error but I was able to find help and was eventually diagnosed with OCD. That forced me to fundamentally reconsider my relationship with myself, which allowed me to truly get to know myself and what I was and wasn’t capable of. I used to think that my neurodivergence would keep me from ever amounting to anything but through hard work I’ve learned how to coexist with it and even use it to my advantage. That’s been one of the key elements in getting me to where I am now, along with the unwavering support of my family and friends.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
One of my favorite things about art is the freedom to explore and experiment, but the thing I’m best known for and always come back to are my ink drawings. I started working predominantly with ink in high school since I typically had a pen on me and it was generally cleaner than pencil. I approach the medium in a variety of ways but always with a careful attention to detail. I love to get lost in the process and one of the easiest ways to do that is by adding intricate details and decorative elements. I also love doing caricatures and try to incorporate them into as much of my work as I can.
As for subject matter, I’ve always leaned towards the strange and spooky! That can also be traced back to my childhood anxieties. From a young age I coped with my fears by learning as much as I could about them so they no longer felt strange and uncomfortable. I guess I got a little too comfortable because now I can’t get enough of them! It also didn’t hurt that my family has an exceptionally dark and weird sense of humor that they passed down to me, so I try to include some of it in everything I create.
I think what sets me apart is my curiosity and my diverse array of influences. I like to dig deep into the things that interest me and I’m always on the lookout for new inspiration. My work draws on everything from Victorian illustration, comics, classic animation, and fine art to film, music, books, and history. All of those influences are visible in my work yet remixed together in a way unique to me.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I definitely developed a renewed appreciation for face-to-face interaction. I was in the middle of my sophomore year of college when the lockdown started and I remember being excited at the thought of not having to go into class and being able to do everything from home. It only took one monotonous and detached semester for me to yearn to be back in a real classroom. I still squirm a little bit every time I have a Zoom meeting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://connorstelleillustration.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stelleraiser/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-stelle-462a10267/
