Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Hogg.
Hi Christine, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been an artist and was fortunate to have access to public and private arts programs as a student. In 2021, I started working full-time as an artist and designer and have been carving my professional path ever since.
In 2022, my husband and I moved to Fort Collins and were determined to learn as much as we could about the creative sector. As we connected with other leaders in the arts, opportunities emerged to collaborate with artists locally, nationwide, and abroad. We attribute much of our drive and agility to how we look after our physical, mental, and spiritual health and how we prioritize habits and relationships that are sources of peace.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My life has been exciting, invigorating, challenging, humbling, and rich due to its ruggedness. The struggles I’ve encountered (whether due to my own creation or due to others’ disruptions) are fibers of my life’s thread that have been sources of resilience, self-worth, and gratitude. When reflecting on times of struggle, it’s hard for me not to think of beauty and appreciation for life.
For a bit of transparency, my challenges included moving through abusive relationships, substance use and dependency, depression and anxiety, and distrust. However, some challenges that I intentionally seek out include living in areas with different languages and cultures, traveling alone, and being honest with myself and others – all of which have heavily influenced my life and day-to-day decision-making and have shaped my biggest values.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My peers have valued my skills as a facilitator, an artist, and an advocate. I’m motivated to create spaces for open dialogue and for voices that are dismissed or that represent a dissenting viewpoint. Our community has learned, too, that I’m willing to facilitate conversations related to sitting with topics like the unknown, grief, and honesty.
As an artist, my primary mediums are drawing, writing, and painting. In Fort Collins, I’m also active with various poetry groups, including the GuloGulo Poetry Collective. As a designer, I’ve primarily worked in UX, web, print, and experience design.
Many collaborators, no matter what the product or determined medium is, have trusted me to visually represent their concepts or have come to me to be a part of a collective project with a broad community reach. Examples of the latter include curating gallery spaces in local venues, co-hosting a podcast highlighting poetry across the region, and developing tools that help the public engage on topics relevant to our creative sector.
I’m particularly moved when someone trusts me with their honest thoughts in the initial stages of a relationship. I not only see it as a shared human experience but also a confirmation of the efforts I’ve made to create a safe space for someone to share. When that connection happens together, I trust that what we ultimately create will be beautiful and meaningful.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Listening. Whether it’s described as observing, active listening, documenting, preserving, or respecting, listening is a daily practice for me and seems to always yield creative and social benefits. As one who seeks to learn from our physical world and from my reflections, I remind myself in most moments to listen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christinehogg.design
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christine.f.hogg
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-f-hogg
- Other: christine.f.hogg@gmail.com
