We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Grayson Cooper. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Grayson below.

Grayson, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

This last year I have had the privilege of being able to work on multiple projects that have meant a lot to me and have fit in with my values.

Firstly, I would like to speak on is my continuing work with the ACLU of WV. I was born and raised in West Virginia and harbor a lot of pride for my home state, and working with an organization making a better West Virginia has meant a lot to me. During the pandemic I began volunteering with them as a counselor at a LGBTQ+ youth summer camp, the Appalachian Queer Youth Summit. This camp has become what I consider the most important work I do and means more to me than I can put into words. As a result in building that relationship, I have gained the opportunities to work with the organization on multiple creative projects over the last year; the cover for this years ACLU WV magazine, an editorial illustration on Queer West Virginians, and merch designs for banned book week. All of these projects have fit into my values as a person and into my hopes for the future for West Virginia.

As well as being an illustrator, I also work as a rock climbing coach and volunteer with local non-profit Queer Climbing Columbus. Outdoor education and diversity in the outdoors is important to me, and I luckily had professional opportunities this year that match those values. Earlier this year I illustrated a cover for Beta magazine, an indie climbing magazine based in the UK focused on inclusive climbing communities. I also got to create a poster for Queer Climbing Cincinnati’s event Queer in the Valley, which I also drew the poster for last year. It’s meant a lot to me to have opportunities to combine my passions in art and climbing, and I hope to find more work that allows me to do outdoors illustration.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I grew up in West Virginia, and my Appalachian upbringing influences my art a lot. I was raised by an outdoorsy family, which has shaped me into the adult and artist I am now. Much of my work currently takes inspiration from the nature and culture of the Appalachian region. Also, as a trans person, there is not much representation of people like me in outdoor spaces, so I try and use my work to create that representation for other marginalized people to see themselves. My senior thesis from the Columbus College of Art and Design was a zine where I created illustrations of diverse people climbing, paddling, hiking and more with the goal to show a world where everyone is welcome outdoors and has the accessibility to enjoy it.

I graduated this last May, and as a fresh graduate, I’m still discovering and exploring the work I want to do. I am finding the most fulfillment in projects that allow me to combine illustration with my love for the outdoors, and ones that align with my values and make me feel like I am making a positive impact in the world. With my illustration practice, I would love to connect with more outdoors and nature publications and businesses to work with.

In addition to freelancing, I also make products I sell while tabling at events and online. I currently make sticker sheets, prints, and individual stickers that mostly theme around nature. I am hoping to start dedicating more time to my own products and table at more events in the next year.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Going to art school, I felt like if I didn’t graduate and start immediatly working full time as an artist, that meant I was a failure. I tried to push myself to be able to freelance full time by the time I graduated, but after spending 4 years drawing full time for a grade and finishing my thesis, I found myself burnt out. And I also discovered upon reflection, that full time freelancing wouldn’t fit my lifestyle as I am very much a people person and enjoy working in social environments. I now have two day jobs I enjoy, coaching youth rock climbing and teaching art classes at a park, and limit how much I freelance each month to prevent burn out. I always want to do art professionally, but for now I am happy keeping it part-time.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I want to put work into the world that provides representation and makes a positive impact on the world. With everything I do, my goal is to put good into the world, both with my creative practice and every other part of my life. Currently, I am finding much of my creative work has elements of activism, representation, and enviromentalism.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://graysoncooper.my.canva.site/
• Instagram: @mossymorels
• Other: Store: https://mossymorel.storenvy.com/