Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Cendejas.
Hi Alexis , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always known that I loved art, ever since I was a little kid. I was always drawing or doing something. creative. I grew up in a small town until I was about 9 and there wasn’t much to do so I would always ask for art supplies for any birthday or Christmas. Luckily my family was always supportive of me creating and would enter me into little contest in the town. Once I moved away to the big city things changed a little bit. I still loved art but as I was getting older my interest were growing as well, but art still always had my heart. I was always choosing between being athletic, because I played volleyball competitively or art. Once I got to high school I was fortunate to do both without one taking from the other. I went to a high school that was solely academic. You got to pick what you wanted to do with a career and focus all your non core classes on that. Of course I chose the art floor. As a freshman we were able to try all different Art careers. We did animation, av tech, graphic design and studio art such as painting, sculpting and drawing. I chose to focus on studio art, where we kind of learned a little bit of everything and it was the first time I had really ever picked up a paint brush to try to paint. I instantly fell in love with painting. Once I graduated I attended The University of Texas at Arlington to major in anything having to do with art. I knew I wanted a career with art but being just an artist was something that was frowned upon socially so I had to figure out how to do art but also have a career, which led me to being a teacher. I got my bachelor of arts in fine arts with my major in painting. College was a difficult time for me as an artist because there were so many amazing artist who seemed to have it all figured out. I believed that if I couldn’t paint the most realistically then I would never be considered a true artist. I also didn’t really know what my “style” or “theme” was. When we would have critiques, it felt as though other artist knew exactly what they were painting and why. I just had no idea and felt like a failure. It wasn’t until during my I think one of my last semesters that I had a professor who kind of pushed us outside of the box. It was the first time that I was being told that realistic painting wasn’t the only way. He loved the weird things of a painting or art work, like random tape or random extra pieces put in. Although at the time I hated it and thought it was dumb I would do those weird things in my art work just to please him and I am so grateful I did because that is when I truly started to grow as an artist I felt for the first time. As I became a senior, I had finally found something that interested me and it was about how I felt like an outsider in my culture. I am Mexican-American but my family has been in America for over 6 generations. So I am known as a ” No Sabo” kid. Someone who is Mexican but can’t speak spanish. I felt like I didn’t have a place I belonged because the “no sabo” kids were constantly made fun of and constantly talked about. I had gone through many experiences of awkwardness of “why don’t you speak spanish?” “aren’t you a latina” and it made me feel outcasted. I loved my culture and everything that came with it but I didn’t feel accepted. So I started to create art about the moments I felt outcasted and also all the moments that were my favorite that had to do with my culture. This idea has always been the one that stuck with me even when art was put on the back burner. Once I graduated I became an art teacher and then stopped creating. I loved my job, I loved learning new things with the kids and teaching them all the cool things about art. I love seeing them create and seeing how much talent such young kids had! By teaching them this also helped me as an artist, once I decided to start creating again I would use the same things I would tell the kids to tell myself. Art didn’t need to be perfect or didn’t always need a reason why. It was a learning process and something you had to practice. I don’t believe you have to be born with talent to be a talented artist, you just had to work for it. I was telling kids everyday how interesting their pieces were even it it didn’t exactly look like they imagine it would. I was telling them mistakes helped us grow and art was about being happy not stressing over every detail. Art wasn’t just about making something the most realistic but making something people could resonate with. Sometimes art wasn’t even about the finished product, but about how it made you feel while you were creating it. I took all these things I was teaching and saying everyday and finally realized all the thoughts and feelings they were having about their art, I too had struggled with all of it. I needed to take my own advice and believe in myself. After about 4 years of teaching, I decided it was time to create again. I didn’t know where to start but I just started. I started to do little markets when I had some time to spare and I didn’t think people would like my stuff but when I sold those first few original artworks I was the happiest I could be. Someone actually liked my painting and wanted to hang in their house! As time went on, I was creating more and more. I found an amazing vendor community and finally felt like I found my footing as a true artist. Now I regularly sell at markets, I am in the process of updating my online store and I create art for a living. As much as I loved being a teacher, it had gotten really hard and with the support of my husband I was able to step away to fully focus on my art and grow as an artist.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I struggled a lot mentally just figuring out who I was an an artist but also just life getting in the way. Being a teacher completely took over my life and I think I went a good 4 year without do anything with art. I had always wanted art to be my main job and would think about I could get to that point. I even had done one market for the first time way before I started to actually sell my art. I thought people wouldn’t want actual art so I thought maybe if I make bracelets and keychains this could be what people wanted. While that filled the void of not creating it wasn’t truly my love so I stepped away again. Then my mom got sick and my life just changed. Art wasn’t even crossing my mind anymore. I realized though that going through that with my mom and having a bunch of life changes I wasn’t very happy, I was just going through the motions. So I started to doodle here and there then I started to actually do all the projects I was giving to my students with. them. This is what helped me realize that I needed art. Even if I wasn’t going to be an artist that sells things, I just needed it as my outlet. Then I wanted to try a market again and thats when I found Cultura Markets. I began doing their markets almost every other month because I loved the community they had built. It did get difficult while being a teacher because I was having to put so much time and energy into being a teacher but I also wanted to put it into my art.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am most known for being a Latina artist. Back in college I did a painting called “Quieres un cafecito?” which translates to “Do you want a coffee?” This painting was the start of everything. I loved this painted and it was an ode to how in the hispanic community coffee was something that everyone drank and it reminded me of the times that we would sit together, drink a coffee and just hang out with your family and friends. Anytime we went to a family house, we would always end the night with a cup of coffee and a pan dulce. Once I started to create again I used that painting as my inspiration. It is one of my best selling watercolor paintings. I use bright colors and different patterns that remind me of my culture in these paintings. I also make digital work and create stickers. Coffee is just the one thing that I always showcase. I specialize in painting, but I love learning. So I am constantly learning new art techniques or mediums. I think what sets me apart is that everything I do, I do from experience. All the sayings I use, all the painting and stickers I create they all stem from my experience as growing up in a hispanic household. Most people can relate to that and I want my work to be bright and happy because my culture makes me happy. I am most proud of the people I have met along the way. Some are customers who tell me they specifically come to markets to see my work and some are the other artist I’ve met. Talking to other artist I feel inspires me and I love hearing their stories. It truly is an amazing community.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Don’t be scared to talk to people! I am as shy as they come but once I started talking to others I realized how much I could learn from them. It doesn’t even have to be talking to other vendors but the people who are coming to shop. A lot of time they truly love art and their community that it why they are shopping these small businesses. I have talked to countless people who have inspired me and motivated me. I grow every time I do a market because I see different art and a lot of times it introduces me to other artist or art. You just have to remind yourself that everyone is still learning just as you are and no one truly has it all figured out. Also not to be scared to ask questions. I love when people ask me questions about things cause if I know how to do it I will gladly help another person out, and thats goes for most people I have talked to. I have learned a lot just by asking simple questions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Createdbylexart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createdby_lex_art?utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@createdby_lex_art?_r=1&_t=ZP-99Sm5LJg5R1
