Today, we’d like to introduce you to Alexandria Dority.
Hi Alexandria, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello! My name is Alexandria, but everyone just calls me Lexi. I grew up in a large family of six sisters and three brothers. I’ve always loved drawing from a young age. I remember going through so much printer paper drawing characters inspired by Disney’s 101 Dalmatians and the Powerpuff Girls with my sisters. I would dream about seeing the characters I drew on TV as an animated series despite how barebones the concepts I would think up were.
As I grew up, the desire to draw and study from life never left me. By the age of 12, I was entering internet spaces to post both my traditional art and experimental digital art to receive feedback and encouragement. I believe at this point, I had tried a few art programs such as Microsoft Paint, Gimp, a bit of Corel Painter, and then Paint Tool Sai, relying on a mouse/trackpad to create my art.
After getting my first drawing tablet at 14 years old, it became a lot harder to resist drawing whenever I had the opportunity to do so (I can’t tell you how many times I would stay up until 4 in the morning drawing on the family computer as it was the only time I could draw uninterrupted, I lost so much sleep). As the years went on, my passion for art never ceased. I looked to expand my knowledge in any way possible by watching videos and tutorials or outright studying someone’s artwork that resonated with me.
Growing up in a lower-class society meant that going to an animation /art-dedicated college would not be an option for me. After my mom left my family in 2017, my dad really wanted me to join the military for the sake of stability. That was not an option that I wanted to take. My family was not very helpful in this department, but I am grateful to the friends I made who helped me pursue my GED so I could attend my local college and study to obtain a degree.
I have been going to IRSC since late 2019 and am close to completing my schooling. I’ve never stopped seeking knowledge to grow as an artist outside of the classroom and have taken up leadership roles at one of my college’s clubs to help others grow as artists as well, giving feedback and sharing all the knowledge I’ve learned through my journey to give guidance to others.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been really challenging to make it to where I am today.
From the lack of proper education, the chaos of dealing with a large family and being my younger sibling’s daily babysitter, the family not being quite sold on art and animation as a career, financial hardships, and college as a whole, it has not been easy.
I’m glad that when I entered college, I had friends and fellow artists (from online spaces) who supported me and made the impossible possible.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m currently a student attending IRSC for a bachelor’s degree in Digital Media with a Concentration in Graphic Design and Visual Communication. I also do some art freelancing on the side whenever my schedule is not super packed with assignments. I’m most known for my illustration work and character design, but I’m pushing to do more animation, which is something I would like to do someday if I can make it into the animation industry.
I’m currently making an animated student short film where I’m creating most of the materials for the project myself; I’m quite proud of how it’s coming out, and I’m excited to show it once it’s finished. Sharing my work on social media has been a great way to advertise my project, as it allowed me to meet Lian Dyogi, a passionate Sound Design student attending Guildhall in London who has offered to create the sound work for my film.
I like to make my art feel dynamic and tell a story if possible, as I feel that if one can accomplish that, one’s art can resonate and connect with people on a greater scale.
How do you think about luck?
I feel like luck has not really played a major role in my life. Sometimes, I have had good things happen to me that might have others say, “Wow, that is so lucky!” or vice versa when something bad happens. My life has been filled with trying to make opportunities happen through sheer dedication and perseverance, with a few little treats sprinkled throughout.
You have to put yourself out there, make connections, show compassion for others, and do your best; you won’t get the chance to do great things if you don’t even try. Take a chance, even if it’s very small, to shine a light into the dark among the sea of stars to even reach one person and impact their life.
Contact Info:
- Website: avdority.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightsbloom/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avdority/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MidnightsBloom
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKB6KiInloaVBaNVGU_ln1w
Image Credits
Alexandria Dority
