Career
Conner is considered as one of the most talented early Richmond artists. He was self-taught and began his career as an industrial painter for the Hoosier Drill Company where he painted decorations and small landscape scenes on farm machinery. He was a plein-air painter and often spent long periods of time living in a tent and painting outdoors.
He spent the next eight years painting the Pacific Coast before he would return to Richmond.
lieutenant was during this time that his painting improved immensely. In 1904, Conner made a place for himself in the art world by having his masterpiece, “Wet Night in February” exhibited in the main hall of the Saint Louis World’s Fair alongside works by nationally recognized artists.
Yet despite his talent and recognition, the most Conner ever received in his lifetime for a work was $150. This work, “The Old Swimming Hole” was purchased in part by Indianapolis philanthropist, Emil Deitz and the school children of his hometown, Fountain City, Indiana who collected $50 worth of pennies to purchase the work.
The painting is still owned by the Northeastern Wayne School Corporation.
In 2007, the Richmond Art Museum mounted the largest exhibition of his work ever compiled.
