Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Tyson.
Hi Alexis, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always liked art. It’s been an outlet for me since I was young, it wasn’t until about 4 years ago that I started actively sharing and focusing on my artistry in a public gaze. As a kid, I was always doing art camps and in classes but I didn’t like doing art all that much.
This was primarily because I didn’t like the quality of my work but after a 2-year break I got into anime and started doing sketches again – not long after that I started drawing for fun and something in me was curious to see how my sketches would translate in a painting. And just like that, I was painting almost every day and just pushing out all this work.
I did that for a year or so and had created this collection of work that was taking up tons of space in my home and it got to the point where someone asked me why I hadn’t shared any of it with others. That got me thinking about putting on a show and at first, I was very on the fence because for the longest time, I had absolutely no interest in others partaking/thinking about my work. It was and still is a deeply intimate process for me and I knew I didn’t do it for an outside gaze.
But after a harsh year, I just jumped into it and surprisingly fell in love with hearing how others see my work. Ever since then I’ve been working to expand my work and skill to continue to build my relationship with creation.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As I’ve mentioned, I used to be very critical of the work I produced. It got to the point where I stopped creating for years simply because I didn’t think I was good enough.
Now that information was true in my opinion but it also made the process way more serious than it needs to be. On the other side – once I started painting initially, I completely gave up on the idea of perfection and instead focused on completion. That meant that I focused less on the process and more on the feeling I got.
If I’m working on something for 10 minutes and look at it and think it’s done – then I am and I’ll stop and the same if it’s 4 hours. The main point is that I don’t stop until it feels right. This makes for works that aren’t properly developed sometimes but also for wildly different levels of stories in my work.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a painter before anything else. All my work is signed TWZ, it’s a play on my Instagram (@twiztiee) but it’s a “twist” – I want my work to twist the reality it exists in. I specialize in acrylic and digital works. You can recognize my work from my style, which I’ve worked to develop and explore these past 3 years.
While painting is really my passion, I am a well-rounded creative. I’ve done 3 murals in Baltimore, logo and website design for small businesses across the DMV, and gallery curatorial work.
I’ve always enjoyed creating experiences. My style of painting is very vibrant and harmonious; I like to invoke a feeling of thought, of your mind racing. I enjoy working with artists to create galleries that are thought-provoking and community-centered. Being able to create work that inspires discussion is my goal.
I’m most proud of my work with other artists. Art is a conversation with another person, it’s otherworldly.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’ve been very fortunate to have an abundance of opportunities and resources in my life, even when I am not actively pursuing it. I put together my first show in a little under 1 month and it came entirely from a place of displaced energy – I didn’t know what the show would turn out to be.
Luck has shown up as a convenient companion, following close behind my every move – even the ones I made in fear.
I’ve been lucky with timing, everything comes at the right time and just as I need it. Whether it be a project idea or inspiration for a piece – I’m always grateful to be taken with the feeling of momentary creativity.
Pricing:
- All original pieces start at $100 and go up depending on size – a more in-depth sizing guide can be found on my Instagram @twiztiee
- Brand Design (Logo and website design) is priced at $120
- Commissioned works start at $100
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.thetwz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetwz/
Image Credits
OCA Mocha Gallery, Brandon Armstrong, and Kenyetta Riddick
