A QUARTERLY FOR BLACK LESBIANS AND ALLIES
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Self-Proclaimed Alexis Brown
Self-Proclaimed (S-P) features Black, queer women of all ages who have declared her capabilities and strengths, and embarked on a journey guided by her passions, talents, and aspirations. Self-proclaimed women don’t wait for legal authorities to grant their title or status. She sets her terms and presses forward without the endorsement of others. Through S-P, we hope that you can find inspiration and passion in your journey too. This quarter, S-P is dedicated to Alexis Brown, a 28-year old artist who resides in Radcliff, KY. According to Alexis, “an artist is an individual that can inspire others to think outside the norm by using his/her particular craft.” It would only take a few seconds of viewing her artwork to see that Alexis truly embodies this definition.
Her Beginning. I was first introduced to art at a young age, maybe nine or ten. I have vivid memories of my Daddy cooking breakfast early mornings. My sister and I would sit at the kitchen table and just draw. We were out of the way and quiet, in turn, we were allowed to watch him in chef mode. I think it was then that my parents realized how much I enjoyed drawing. My father worked at Publishers Printing Company in Shepherdsville where they printed horse magazines. Whenever there were damaged publications, he would bring them home to me along with stacks
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of computer paper. I would try to draw all of those beautiful horses and I have been drawing ever since.
Her Process. I like to take from multiple studies and mix them into creative works of art. For instance, I create a grayscale drawing in pencil until it is complete. Next, I apply a watercolor affect to the pencil drawing to make a finished piece, but it doesn’t stop there. After creating the watercolor piece, I take the drawing to
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“Art is like a security blanket that I never had to trade in for maturity.” Artwork from the 1st Annual Black Angel Art Series 2012 << Ms. Tremmel
FedEx Office to scan the image into the computer and begin manipulating the piece digitally. My art can start at one point and morph into another animal. I would have to classify my artwork as mixed media.
Her Inspiration. I draw inspiration from real life experiences. I like to travel and just wander around in different cities and towns aimlessly. I’m definitely a loner that likes to be around people, which makes me a walking contradiction. This, in turn, makes for some very interesting artwork. My personality was very hard for me to understand growing up. But since I have grown older and more comfortable in my own skin, I have begun to understand the value of my inspiration regardless of how unorthodox it may be. I am just grateful that I am able to translate my distorted travels into art.
Her Expression. I believe that when a craft has been revered as an honorable intention of identifying your personal self, it then becomes art. A successful fisherman, a clock maker, a seamstress, they all have the potential of being an artist in their own right. The world we live in could easily be considered an artistic composition.
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The paper and pen are my calling just as the sea calls a fisherman to his purpose. In a world true to art, everything is considered artistic expression. I am always excited to branch out into other art forms. I have picked up tattooing, poetry, and storytelling. I think it is very important for artists to branch out into other areas of creativity. It gives character to the passion.
Her Subjects. I use the female figure a lot in my artwork. She tends to reflect a mental state of high distress, but the art is so peaceful in nature. This makes high contrast a reoccurring theme as well.
Her Identity. Each piece of art I create is a personal representation of some type of experience that I have lived through. If it’s on my mind, it’s in my art. I feel that my viewers connect with my work because it’s like reading a young woman’s diary, and essentially you are. Continued on next page...
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Her Forte.
Her Support.
Hands down, I draw the best. Portraits are my favorite subjects. I love to get a great photo of someone and transfer his/her likeness to pencil and charcoal. Having a picture to draw from really takes my mind from being so creative and allows me to be more technical.
The people closest to me are the driving force of my art. My friends are always interested in my art. I can go to any friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house and see my artwork on two or three walls of their homes. It is truly a compliment. I am more than blessed to have friends and family that support me as an entrepreneur in the art field. The support of my family and friends make me feel invincible to say the least. I definitely have the green light to create.
Her Development. Art is like a security blanket that I never had to trade in for maturity. It just kind of grew up with me. In my adolescent years, I would draw simply because all kids love to draw, right? Towards my teens, I would draw because expressing myself verbally was simply not an option. Once I reached my junior year of college, I realized that I wanted to try the art scene as a career. Now that I think about it, art has always been a part of me.
Her Opinion. The African American Art scene in Louisville is very poor. There are plenty of great African American artists in the Louisville Area, but when you talk about an art community, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where we drop the ball. Selling African American art demands an overwhelming amount of time and commitment. By the time a Louisville artist has reached his/her peak
Kia >>
Order personalized work and prints by Alexis at www.oiarts.webs.com. Email: oiart2008@yahoo.com.
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<< Adrie need professional help,” that is when I know I have a masterpiece on my hands.
Her Projects.
of success, the connection with the next generation art community seems to be lost—as if there were a barrier between the language of the young and the old. It’s pretty tragic, tons of young artists without a leader. Other cities have seemed to create an atmosphere of culture that inspires, such as music in the street and art districts. With that type of energy the weight isn’t on one person’s shoulders to be a mentor or leader. Instead, it becomes everyone’s responsibility to simply create. I would love to see Louisville get to that point. The most challenging aspect of being an artist in this region is connecting with a tribe. Artists can be the best hermits this world has to offer. Sometimes I think the only reason we poke our heads out is to get inspiration for our next piece or because we’re hungry. Art energy is felt in a creative space. Without that creative space the desire to produce art usually dies out when the mortgage and car payments roll in. I would like to see Louisville become more of an Art community so that linking with kindred spirits wouldn’t be so tough.
I have a few projects going on at the moment. I will be participating in Chip Kafele Calloway’s show Loves Requiem on February 14, 2013. This show will feature four very talented artists and will be held at The Pointe in Louisville, KY. In August 2013, Mickel Green will host his second annual Black Angel series in Louisville. In the following month, we will take the show to New York. I am very excited about these events. These guys work very hard on these shows, not to mention they open their events to fellow artists to showcase as well. Quite a strong team we are building here. In addition children’s book that I have been working on for almost five years off and on, I am designing my own deck of playing cards. The design will be created in the likeness of African American heritage. I want the design to be precise enough to compete with traditional playing cards such as MaverickHoyle and Bicycle. Expect to see these decks of cards available at the Loves Requiem on February 14. •
<< Good Times In Purgatory
Her Voice. When it comes to my work, I value my personal opinion the most. An artist is his/her worst critic. After I’ve finished a piece there is one friend I always send my final draft to for review, mainly just for feedback. Other than that, my go-to opinion is my mother’s facial expression. When she looks at a piece and her facial expression reads, “Does my daughter www.ResPublishing.com
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