Meet Lexie Harrell | Artist & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lexie Harrell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lexie, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
That many of us are consistently learning as we go. A lot of professional artists didn’t go to art school. There are countless online tutorials, workshops, and communities where artists can learn and improve their skills. There are community-led life drawing sessions and plein air painting groups here in LA. I learned so much during my time in art school, and I’m immensely glad that I went, but looking back, the most valuable educations I’ve received have been through working for a gallery and through learning from other artists. I’m always taking online workshops offered by artists I admire. I’m always talking to other artists and trading ideas. It’s a constant education process. The art world evolves constantly, and we’re all learning and changing as we go.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always been drawn to creative activities. I’ve worked in graphic design, interior design, and I worked for an art gallery. Painting and drawing have always been the things that allowed me to clear my mind. I’ve struggled with anxiety throughout my life. The process of creating art helps to calm everything down within me. I’ve had people come up to me and say that my work makes them feel calm as well. That has become the central idea behind my abstract pieces—creating calm from chaos. Making the leap from having a stable job and making art on the side, to then plunging into creating art as my full-time job was one of the most difficult decisions. It was something I knew I wanted to do eventually, but I never knew when. When the pandemic happened, everything was changing, the workplace was changing. It felt like everyone was rethinking their lives and their goals, rethinking what really mattered to them, and I decided to go back to school and give an art career the effort I’d always wanted to give. It’s been challenging, with countless ups and downs, but I’ve learned so much along the way, and I’m eternally glad that I took that step. If anyone walks past one of my pieces, stops, and takes something positive from the experience, if it gives them a sense of peace or happiness, it makes it all worth it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a big fan of public spaces. We would go for a hike in Griffith Park and take in a planetarium show at the Griffith Observatory. Another of my favorite hikes is the Santa Ynez Canyon Trail near Pacific Palisades, so we’d have to do that. Of course, the Getty Center, for the art collection and gorgeous views. Dinner and drinks after in Santa Monica at The Misfit. We could go to Venice for a day and spend some time people watching while having lunch at the Sidewalk Café. One day would start with a picnic in the meadows at the Silver Lake Reservoir, a visit to Skylight Books in Los Feliz, and end with drinks/dinner at the Dresden. On another day, we could have a late lunch at El Coyote and walk over to the New Beverly Cinema for a double feature. The Formosa Café is also a must for dinner. If we want to be tourists, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is worth the hype. If we want to spend an afternoon in DTLA, The Broad and The Last Bookstore are my two must-sees. And of course, one full day needs to be spent at the beach in Malibu, simply relaxing.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people! My family and friends who have always supported me, come to my shows, and are always cheering me on. My boyfriend and my dogs for putting up with the overwhelming amount of art supplies taking over our home. The community of artists I’ve met along the way—they’ve been my favorite part of this entire process. I learn so much from other artists, and it makes me feel amazing to watch them succeed. Having people around me who are experiencing the same struggles and working toward the same goals, who I can turn to for advice and to share my wins, makes all the difference. I’d really like to nurture the artistic community as much as I can throughout my career.

Website: https://lexieharrell.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexieharrell_art/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexie-harrell-733a891b3/