We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alexis Avery a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Alexis thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

A few years after earning my degree in Psychology, I was in a rut and feeling a bit lost. I was working in my field, which I enjoyed to some extent, but found it wasn’t fulfilling my soul and my health was suffering. A drastic lifestyle change was needed, and I ended up moving across the country to be closer to my family. The move was somewhat unexpected, and I wasn’t sure what I would do next. I spent time focusing on what I enjoyed and took up painting. Growing up I has always enjoyed crafting and creating art, but I was entirely self-taught. I considered my lack of formal training as a blockade to calling myself a “real” artist. As I continued to paint, I found myself with more and more pieces of art stacking up in my room, I decided to take a risk and sign up for my first art market. When I sold my first painting, this was the moment I knew the artistic path was mine to pursue.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Born a creative, it has been a lifelong joy of mine to craft and create art. Some of my earliest memories involve me sculpting pieces of clay fruit to give to my mom, crafting dolls from cardboard tubes and constantly doodling in the margins of my school notebooks. As a perpetual student, I enjoy learning new skills to express my thoughts, emotions and creativity. My passion for learning has resulted in the variety of products and offerings I now bring to the world. I draw, take photos, create digital art, craft jewelry and I even learned how to make candles! Several years ago, I took up painting and this is the medium I work with the most. I paint with acrylic and oils, and like to experiment with mixed media techniques. My oil paintings are typically landscapes, and I look to the beauty of the natural world for inspiration. As an artist, I aspire to help others feel joyful, empowered and uplifted through my creations. I aim to create works that inspire awe and help people connect with the present moment. I enjoy using vivid colors to help provoke thoughtful insight and foster a deeper relationship between mind, body, and spirit. Last year I became a certified yoga teacher, and am currently working towards a meditation teacher certification. I am really excited to explore these avenues through an artistic lens as I plan on using my art to teach and help my students connect with their own creative prowess. I believe we are all creative and can nurture this ability to heal ourselves and deepen our understanding of the values and beliefs we hold. My work is constantly evolving and I am looking forward to where my journey takes me next!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a creative is the ability to convey my thoughts and feelings freely through my work. There are times when I don’t know how to verbally express my views, and being able to show that through art has helped me connect with others in a more meaningful way. It warms my heart when my work deeply resonates with someone, and t’s a reminder that though our stories differ, we are all connected by similar feelings that arise from our experiences.

How did you build your audience on social media?

When I first started selling my art, I became hyper focused on my social media pages and was constantly posting. While there is benefit to growing your social media presence overtime, I would suggest treating it like a portfolio when you’re first starting out. Post authentically when you feel called and keep it up to date with upcoming events. I found stressing over feeling like I have to post at certain times, and tracking that data is a creative buzzkill. Putting your focus on networking and creating deeper relationships with your local community is way more valuable in my opinion. Doing so allows your social media presence to develop organically and authentically.

Contact Info:

• Website: Intuitivealexis.com
• Instagram: @intuitive_alexis