We recently connected with Lexie Harrell and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lexie, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?
I’ve found that the most successful way for me to beat creative blocks is just to get my hands dirty and begin a new project, without needing to know where it’s going. There’s a Van Gogh quote that says, “If you hear a voice within you say, ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” Even coloring in a coloring book or scribbling in a sketchbook is a step in the right direction, and the creative energy will likely flow from there. Another great way to get creativity flowing again is to take a step back and think, “What has inspired me in the past?” If it’s an exhibit I saw at a museum, I could return and see it again. If it’s a specific artist whose work resonated with me, I could try to learn more about that artist. Using websites like Pinterest to collect inspiring images is also fun and effective, or simply going to the local library and wandering the art section. There are so many great artists and ideas out there, one of them has to spark something.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I do pathos-centered abstract painting. I want my work to connect with viewers on an emotional level and make them feel a sense of calm, belonging, or curiosity. The world is a scary place, and I think all of us have anxieties and fears that follow us throughout our day. I hope that encountering my work can be a kind of reset button for the nervous system and lead someone take a moment to breathe and have a sense of peace, happiness, or just have a conversation about creativity. The arts have always been what help me to clear my mind and give me a sense of centeredness, so I hope my work can do the same for others.
I work in a variety of media and like to challenge myself to keep learning and growing as an artist. I incorporate sculptural techniques into my paintings, creating 3D effects, and I use reflective, metallic pigments, so that the painting looks different depending on the lighting of the space. I’ve found that putting my paintings in a space with natural lighting causes the piece to change in appearance throughout the day as the sunlight changes, and those small moments of change can be very meditational to see.
Right now, I’m traveling and participating in art fairs, constantly connecting with and growing my audience. The best way to keep tabs on the events I’m participating in and new collection launches is to go to my website and join my email list or follow me on Instagram. I’m currently very excited to be scheduling exhibits for 2025.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The most important quality is resilience. When making a career out of your creative pursuits, there are going to be people along the way who will try to talk you out of it. But once you’re fully involved in that pursuit and creating a community of people doing the same, that community will help you and encourage you along the way, and those are the people to listen to. Staying resilient involves a combination of a strong sense of self and optimism, so that even when you fail or encounter obstacles, you know you can stand up and try again.
When it comes to practical skillsets, a strong understanding of color theory is necessary to be an artist or designer on the most basic level. Trust me, you’ll use it every day.
Lastly, the ability to draw. I’ve fallen back on it a lot. It doesn’t matter if you think you’re not good at drawing or not talented. Just like any other skill, it’s a muscle that needs to be exercised. If you learn the basics of drawing and differentiating between light and dark in your drawings, it will change the way you see the world.
How would you describe your ideal client?
I would love to create some large-scale custom work for businesses like restaurants or boutiques in the near future. In the past I’ve made custom pieces for businesses who have given me a color palette to work with and allowed me the freedom to make whatever I wanted with it. My ideal client would say, “Here are the measurements. Here are the colors. Go.” That would be absolute bliss. I would love to make some beautiful work for local businesses.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lexieharrell.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexieharrell_art/
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