The Quick and Dirty
Alexis Burrell is a graphic designer, photographer, and fine artist. She commonly uses computers, cameras, and clay to make her work, but she doesn’t limit herself to only mediums that start with the letter C. Her plan in life is to never work a day in her life. Because if you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work.
The Longer But (Hopefully) More Interesting Version
One of my earliest memories is of feeling jealous. I stared in a mixture of awe and envy at my mom. We were laying on the carpet, surrounded by crayons and coloring books. My childish scribbles could not compare to my mom’s masterful moose. I wanted to be able to color like that someday. Not only that, but I wanted to do even better than she could.
My mom and I still occasionally color together, and yes, I am now better than her. My mom didn’t know it, but her coloring on the carpet with me got the ball rolling, and it’s still rolling today. My mom is the reason that I became the artist that I am. My parents supported me with art supplies every Christmas, showcasing my work in a gallery (that also happened to be our fridge), and words of encouragement.
I love trying new mediums, and am always open to trying my hand at something new. When my high school art teacher suggested that I take ceramics my junior year, I didn’t hesitate to sign up for the class. I quickly fell in love (some might say addicted).
My senior year I got accepted into Advanced Placement 3D. I developed a portfolio that focused on expressing various plant forms in clay. A common theme in my work that spreads across all media is my love for nature. I submitted my portfolio to College Board, who gives scores of 1-5 with 5 being the highest. I was one of thirteen students to get a 5 in the state of Pennsylvania that year. If you would like to see the portfolio that I submitted, you can click on the photo.
As graduation started to creep up on me, people kept asking that question. “What are you going to do after high school?” I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I did know that I never wanted to work a day in my life. You know what they say about doing what you love; it will never feel like work. My research led me to graphic design, so I enrolled myself into Pennsylvania College of Technology. I didn’t quite know what I was getting myself into, but I did finally have an answer to that freaking question.
It didn’t take me long to realize that graphic design was right for me. My favorite part of designing something is that moment towards the end where everything clicks into place like a puzzle. I felt that way about becoming a graphic designer; the pieces just fit together.
One semester a professor suggested that I apply to become a student photographer. My parents had gotten me a camera for Christmas years ago. The first photograph I ever took was a horribly exposed picture of deer in my backyard in the snow. I had used my camera on and off, but I didn’t become serious until I took a photography class that actually taught me how to use the dang thing. Grateful for the recommendation, I took the student photographer job. It’s surreal when you get free rein of campus on a beautiful autumn afternoon with your camera and headphones for company. It’s another feeling entirely when you see your work published online for all to see, with your name at the top of the page. It is definitely a job that doesn’t feel like work.