Meet Alexis Martinez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Martinez.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’m 29 years old. I was born and raised in Tucson, AZ. I specialize in Watercolor creating LowBrow/Neo Traditional Tattoo inspired artwork. I have drawn ever since I was 4 years old and kept that as hobby throughout my childhood into middle school. I would redraw the album artwork of Alan Forbes, who did some of my favorite AFI/The Offspring records cover and booklet art. It wasn’t until I was a Junior in high school I realized ‘ Hey you could go to school for art and create album art for bands.’

When I graduated Pueblo High school in 2007. I enrolled at Pima to pursue Graphic Design. Which would then lead me to a transfer to Art Institute of Tucson in Media Arts & Animation program in 2010. I would soon come to terms that this was not the route I wanted to go and my time in art school then was rough. I was constantly comparing myself to others around me and the passion to create on my own was being sucked out of me. I dropped out.

Around 2011 is when I branched out and began to show my work professionally in group art shows. I started with local Tucson Art Collective called Bogdare, which got my feet wet to then participate in RAW Artists Tucson showcase in 2012, which I participated in total of 4 – 2 of which one I was a Nominee out of 5 for Visual Artist of the Year and another I was featured for Director’s Highlight. I had a lot of fun doing those events plus I got to meet and network with other local artists I never would have got to meet otherwise. Ever since I have been riding the wave creatively doing art fairs when I find out about them, as well as showing regularly in Solar Culture Gallery in Tucson.

Please tell us about your art.
I work with Watercolor, primarily as well as mixing in Colored pencil and glitter. I use dual point markers and Micron pens for Line work. I am heavily inspired by Traditional and Neo Traditional Style Tattoo design as well as LowBrow Art Culture.

I am currently in the middle of Three on-going series. The 1st one I started back in 2014 called “Punctured Rose Animal Series”, the other two I began this year in 2018- “Cannabis Mermaids”- as a medicinal cannabis advocate I wanted to blend the beauty and fantasy of mermaids with cannabis plant which quite honestly has been a great aid in my creativity the past 4 years. Last of the series I am working on is “Artsy Female Muses” where I draw/paint fellow female creative’s portraits that measure approx. 5″×5″ that are my friends or females I admire their work. I then put them in custom spray painted Glittery frames.

Other than these series I am doing. I take inspiration from music, friends, nature, wildlife, other artists when working on art trades. I often say my work could be juxtapose where it is dark or gnarly in subject matter at times but bright in colors. I love bright and bold colors. My favorites to incorporate in my work are shades of purple, teal, and pink.

What I hope people take away from my work I never really thought of. I often would get comments on works specifically if it’s a woman’s face I have painted saying ” she has sad eyes. Are you sad?” I say “no, I am not.” It’s quite funny. I mean there was a time in 2012 where I did paint woman quite a bit with bleeding mascara, that was product of being inspired by the song by Atreyu and also thinking it looked very Metal too.

As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
As an artist I define success as being true to one self. Characteristic I feel is essential to success as an artist is the will to have a Free thinking, unbiased creative mind. As well as the passion to never stop learning.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I have 3 paintings displayed in Solar Culture Gallery in Tucson, AZ. Located 31 E. Toole Ave. They have group showings every 4 months with various Tucson/Arizonan artists. They just had a new art opening on June 9th. Media outlets I post my art on are: Instagram, Facebook Like page, and DeviantART.

Contact Info:

• Email: artfor.themasses13@gmail.com
• Instagram: Www.Instagram.com/alexismartinez_art
• Facebook: Www.facebook.com/artistalexismartinez
• Other: http://x-ladylex-o.Deviantart.com

Image Credit:
Alexis Martinez

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