Have you ever noticed the murals on the side of The Glenwood Plaza or the Coffee Break? If they’ve ever caught your eye, you can thank local artist and Clinton resident Logan Cummings.

“From a very young age, I liked painting,” says Logan.

Logan remembers painting on cardboard with his hands as a kid, but it wasn’t until he was a little older that Logan started taking art a little more seriously. Logan learned to draw at an after-school art class in 5th grade and found that he was really good at it.

“Then I started really focusing on art,” Logan says.

By the time he was in high school, Logan was being asked to make wall murals. The first one he ever made is one on display in a Spanish classroom at The Morgan School. According to Logan, the mural depicts the school’s Huskies’ mascot, along with encouragements for peace and learning.

“I was excited to do it. I tried to make the whole wall pop,” Logan says.

While that mural is in a school and thus not visible to the general public, Clinton residents can see two of Logan’s other murals on the side of both The Glenwood Plaza and the Coffee Break restaurant. Additionally, Logan is hoping to create another piece of public art with the Clinton Art Gallery later this year, pending approval of funds.

“I don’t know if it wasn’t for that mural in the classroom if I would have done the other two murals,” Logan says.

Over the years, Logan has expanded his repertoire to include other art mediums beyond painting and drawings.

“I’ve spent the last two years focusing on photography,” Logan says. “I picked it up in art school, and it’s something I want to do more of.”

When it comes to his subject matter, Logan finds inspiration in different areas, depending on what kind of art he’s doing.

“When it comes to photography, for example, it’s more of a documentary style, and I’m looking for pretty much everything on the shoreline,” Logan explains.

However, there is one unusual object that is a frequent source of inspiration for Logan.

“Seagulls are a big inspiration,” Logan admits with a laugh. “They’ve kind of become one of my favorite animals, and they’re a muse for sure.”

While he acknowledges that a full-time career as an artist is a notoriously difficult one in which to be financially stable, Logan feels that the best part of being an artist is the “sense of purpose” that art brings him.

“I would say my favorite thing is that I love it as much as I do,” Logan says. “I wake up excited and love to do what I do.”

Right now, Logan is working on pursuing a degree from the University of Connecticut, while also working as a photographer at TJ Maxx and Mystic Aquarium. Logan has been trying to get his art featured in more exhibitions, including one to be held at the Henry Carter Hull Library in December. He also has his own website where he makes T-shirts, stickers, and other designs at altstop.store.

“My hope is to one day become an art teacher. I want to be able to do what I love and teach what I love to do,” Logan says. “In the meantime, I’m working to go from exhibit to exhibit and pursue my education.

Understandably, Logan says that most of his spare time is dedicated to pursing his art and creative passions, but also enjoys going to the beach, walking along the shoreline, music, and watching The X Files.

Logan grew up in Clinton and graduated from The Morgan School in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Logan started to take note of and appreciate Clinton’s scenic beauty, and it’s something that he absolutely loves about his hometown.

“I think my favorite thing about Clinton is that it has so many beautiful areas in it,” says Logan.