Who is freakinlex?
a breif summary
I’m Lex the artist behind freakinlexart. I created my artistic persona freakinlex in July of 2020 and have been nurturing the idea ever since. Although I typically work with acrylic paint, I also enjoy pushing the boundaries with different textures and on occasion incorporating other mediums. I’m 23 and have been married to my husband, Devin, since September 2021. My little family lives in Western Pennsylvania and is composed of my husband, myself, our cat Coco and our two dogs Dot and Luna.
My mission as an artist and creative in 2023 is to spread joy and inspire people to express themself without judgment. My work changes and grows as I do, and I believe it is important to allow yourself the space to create freely. I want to use my platform to shift the view of what success looks like and break down the barriers that we’ve built around the idea of a “fulfilled life”. I believe anyone can achieve their dreams with an open mind.
A future goal of mine would be to open up a shop of my own that is also a space for creatives to gather and enjoy the experience. I won’t go too far into detail, but I have big plans for this idea that I hope to one day bring to life.
If you like what you’ve read so far and would like to know more about me, feel free to check out the section labeled “Let’s get personal - my journey thus far.” If you’d like to check out my other platforms they’ll be linked directly below.
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR2CfCwa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freakinlex/
Pinterest: https://pin.it/3l0AjFJ
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/freakinlexart
Interacting with my social media accounts helps me reach a bigger audience and is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support!
Let's Get Personal
my journey thus far
TW: Mental health*
Hi sweetness! I’m Lexi or Lex, the face behind freakinlexart. I’m 23 years old and live in Western Pennsylvania with my husband, our cat Coco and two dogs Dot and Luna.
I grew up in a small town and spent most of my time riding bikes with friends, going to cheer practice, and (of course) making art. I’ve always been connected to the arts in one way or another. In highschool, I took every art elective I could. Specifically, I dabbled in photography, cosmetics, ceramics, and two dimensional art.
I got my first official job when I was 16 working in a shoe store with my mom (shameless shoutout, hi mom!) as a retail sales associate. I learned a lot during my years in retail, one thing being that I love to help people feel comfortable and accepted.
In 2020 I had been working at a hiking boot store for 3 years and realized that wasn’t fulfilling me. Between issues at my job and being in a very transformational point in my life, I decided I no longer wanted to work under someone. After many discussions with my partner and others in my support system, it was decided, I was going to put in my two weeks notice and launch my art career! As you can imagine, I was terrified. I’d always had a stable job of some sort and never tried selling my own work before. Thankfully, I have some really amazing people in my life and their excitement for me drowned out any negativity from others (and myself).
I started my business in July of 2020. In my first 6 months I had 121 orders! I couldn’t believe I was actually doing it. Part of running a small business is finding the balance between work, play, and rest. I was doing so well and working so much that I actually got burnt out by summer of 2021. During all of the madness my partner and I had gotten engaged, so by the time summer hit we were frantically trying to plan a wedding and my business got put on the back burner. Sales slowed down and wedding costs piled up. I’ve always struggled with my mental health and watching my business fade away was breaking my heart.
The wedding was in September of 2021 and it was beautiful. Our honeymoon was in October and as soon as we got back I got to work. I knew I couldn’t let this dream go. Failure isn’t an option. I started painting every day and having shop updates every two weeks. I decided I wanted to try out a few vendor shows on top of biweekly shop updates… I’ve learned since then that a schedule that intense is not sustainable.
Again, my mental health was spiraling. I was having body image issues, not taking care of myself, and amidst all of this we were moving to a new town about 40 minutes from my hometown. All of my focus was going into our new home. My car had recently broken down and been sold, so my husband and I were (and still are) sharing a vehicle. I was in a new place with no car and no friends close by. Life got lonely very quickly. In November of 2022 I was going through an identity crisis and battling one of the worst bouts of depression I’ve gone through. I am very open about my mental health because I know how hard it can be to feel like nobody understands. It is important to me that my followers, customers, and anyone else struggling know that it is possible to achieve your dreams while battling depression and anxiety. If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to a friend or family member.
Through the end of the year I began to experiment with my style (artistic and personal). I started to rediscover myself and have slowly been rewriting my personal “character”, if you will. I let myself experiment on Tiktok, which is now where I spend most of my time in the digital space. I love the way it allows a person to reach so many new people almost effortlessly. I’ve found a spark in doing “paint and chat” voiceover videos and it’s helped me become more confident in my funky and eclectic style. I’m so grateful for this experience, and I know my future is bright. Although I specialize in acrylic painting, I will never limit myself to one medium. I consider myself to be a funky, eclectic and colorful creative. I find joy in wacky home decor and self expression. It is important to me that I use my platform to spread joy and create a safe space for creatives young and old. Life is a series of waves and learning how to ride them might just save you, as it has saved me. There are no rules to art, despite what you may have been told. Together we can break the barrier and find community within each other. Allow yourself to be loud and take up space. I hope this inspires you to follow your dreams and find your freedom unapologetically. Although depression and anxiety may never leave me fully, I’m learning to not fear them and rather, work with them by knowing when to give myself a break. It is important to nurture yourself and, as I mentioned before, allow yourself to ride the wave. You’re an absolute rockstar and as always, I love you and you’ve got this.
- freakinlex