Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Hunter.
Hi Alexis, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always loved art since I was young. I would grab any sheet of paper and start drawing with crayons and colored pencils. I would draw all the time at school and at home. My family, teachers, and classmates recognized that I had a God-given gift. However, it wasn’t until middle school that I realized I had something special. In the seventh grade, I drew one of my classmates when she wasn’t looking and showed off the portrait to my classmates. They loved it! From there, I decided that I wanted to become an artist.
Even though I had this God-given gift, I recognized that I still had to develop my skills, knowing that there is always something new to learn. In the ninth grade, I auditioned for the visual arts program in the Orangeburg-Calhoun Consortium for the Arts, a summer arts program, and was accepted. During that time, I discovered that I could turn my passion for art into a career by becoming an animator.
Cartoons were my life growing up. I found myself immersed in the characters’ world and felt like I was a part of the group. I remember drawing different characters from memory and showing them to my family. Cartoons influenced my decision to become an animator. You can bring drawings to life to create any world imaginable and have people invested in your story. I want the audience to feel how I felt growing up, and I ultimately want to create connections through my art.
Due to finances, I initially decided to go to Clemson University to become a mechanical engineer and then pursue animation. Halfway through my first semester, I knew that this was not life for me. I wanted to fully pursue animation. There was no point in living a life where you don’t go after your dreams. Still keeping my financial situation on my mind and thinking realistically, I decided to choose a major that was as close to animation as possible but also remained in the STEM field. I switched my major to Computer Science and minored in Digital Production Arts. Midway through my undergrad, I knew that grad school was the next step for me, and now I am currently back at Clemson University getting an MFA in Digital Production Arts.
I created A’Blazing Arts during the summer of 2020 because I wanted to keep myself occupied during quarantine and show more people my art. With all the craziness that was going on during that time, I wanted to be a beacon of positivity. Initially, I gave myself room to experiment, but as time went by, I got more comfortable with drawing digitally. Looking back, I can see the evolution of my content and my personal growth.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
When it comes to my artistic abilities, it’s mostly been a smooth road. I’ve had the natural talent for as long as I can remember, so I was always confident in my abilities growing up. Yet, I’ve had to fight comparison. When I entered college, I was surrounded by people who were very talented and more experienced than me, and at times, I’ve doubted my own ability. However, I knew I had a right to stand beside them. I also knew that God created only one of me and no one can take that from me. With social media, there’s even more talent that’s showcased, and it got tougher to stay assured of myself. However, I remind myself that I am gifted by God. Keeping in mind my vision for my platform, I draw what I want to communicate to others, regardless of the likes.
When it comes to my career path, that road is not as smooth. No one else in my family took the road I am taking, so I had to figure out a lot of things on my own. However, it was a good growing experience because I had to stand by my decision. I knew what I wanted to do and the path I wanted to take to get there, but God had other plans. It will be the same destination but on a different path. I wanted to go to a vocational school for animation, but because of finances, I had to attend a program that would handle both my wants and my needs. Yet, I am grateful to have taken that path because I have a wider array of skills in the technical and artistic fields. I also realized that I could not be in a position where I have to compromise my values, so I have to be selective whenever I start looking for a job in my career. However, this gives me the great opportunity to be a freelance animator and create my own studio where I don’t have to compromise.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My goal for A’Blazing Arts is to set “the world ablaze with fine art and positivity.” I want to show that there is still beauty in the world. I want my audience to take a break from all the chaos and admire what God has created. I will draw anything that I believe communicates that message, but I also like to draw DTIYS (Draw This In Your Style) challenges, fan art, and anything that will help my audience get to know me.
I specialize in drawing portraits. I love drawing people because they are God’s masterpieces. It is interesting to see how unique each person’s features are and then emulate that person on paper. Although I have been drawing more digital works lately, oil pastel is my all-time favorite and go-to medium.
I am most proud of the Black History Month series I did in February 2021. Each week, I researched black artists, alive and deceased, and drew portraits of them with captions about their impact on the world. Getting support from the artists that are alive was amazing, but I liked educating my audience about the significance of black artists. You don’t really hear much about artists during Black History Month, so I wanted to not only expand the audience’s horizons but my own too. I learned a lot that month, and I’m excited to continue this series for years to come.
What sets me apart from others is that I keep God in mind when I draw. I understand that I cannot do what I do without Him. He created the world I am trying to replicate on paper. He gave me the creativity and skills to come up with my own ideas. Also, I am the only me. I am the only one that can communicate my message in my own way. There are a lot of talented artists in the world, but no one can draw like me. I kept this in mind when developing my style and establishing my identity, and I will continue to set the world ablaze with my own flame.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Take that step and put yourself out there. If you want to connect with someone, you must be the one to reach out. You have not because you ask not (James 4:2). The worst thing that can happen is not getting a response, but if that happens, just keep trying.
What has worked well for me is attending events and talks with people in the industry and other students like me trying to get there. There are a lot of free events that you can take advantage of. I have attended two Disney Student Animation Summits so far, and we got to share our interests and links. I have connected with some of those students on social media, and I’ve even chatted with a few about our interests. The best part is that these events motivate me and show me what I should do to set myself up for success.
I also like going on LinkedIn and connecting with people in the industry. I introduce myself, mention that I am a DPA grad student (if speaking with an alum), ask about their journey, and request how I can get there. People are more friendly than you think and are willing to share their knowledge and give advice. It’s ok if you don’t know what you want to do, but if you show that you are genuine and willing to learn, others will help you out.
Finally, what has also worked well for me is joining a Facebook group called Black Animators. I was grateful to get accepted into the group as a student, and I get to be connected to black animators of different skill levels and experiences. I see how hardworking they are when they constantly post about their works, and it shows me that I can do the same. There are also other Facebook groups to join too. Community is important, so it’s great to get that support.
Contact Info:
- Email: ablazingarts@gmail.com
- Website: https://ablazingarts.wixsite.com/arts
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ablazingarts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexis.hunter.965928/
