Meet Chanse Henderson “Meraki” Alexander

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chanse Henderson “Meraki” Alexander.

Hi Chanse Henderson “Meraki”, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Like clockwork, I’d wake up at 6 AM each Saturday, grab my favorite plastic table and chair, place it in front of the TV, and draw Sonic the Hedgehog for the duration of the TV episode. That is where it all began for me.

Creating, whether it’s digital art, singing/songwriting, or film acting has always been a way of giving thanks to Life and those that inspire me. Back when I was a child, if I thought someone, something, or a form of media (film, TV show, clothing) was “cool” I couldn’t help but draw it out. I loved being able to replicate and emulate whatever I experienced and this stayed consistent all throughout middle school through college.

I discovered theater in middle school and it was the first time I felt that I could be someone other than “me”. Middle school wasn’t the greatest time in my life. I transitioned from one school to a private one where I knew no one. I struggled with my weight, my looks, and my self-perception… all while trying to make friends in an environment I didn’t know. But stepping onto that stage in the 7th grade meant letting go of ALL the obstacles, thoughts, and troubles that plagued my mind. And it didn’t matter if people laughed or pointed, they were paying attention to a character, not me. From then on, I knew that acting would be a career path for my Life.

Digital art took a bit more time to foster as my art skills were largely dependent on my resources. At the time, I was very self-conscious about my work; there were many areas I knew I needed work in, which kept me from publicizing a lot of my work. I even had a few friends clown my work for some time. However, once I graduated and left for college, I had the chance to reinvent myself creatively!

I decided to pursue film acting as a “minor” in college. The quotes were due to the fact that Acting was a major only, but I had already chose to focus Psych (which has had a major impact in my Life as well as my artistic career). Instead, I made it a point to use my free time to connect with those who were also interested in film like my fraternity brother and future roommate Ifeanyi Ezieme! He was also one of the main supporters of my transition to digital art when we went abroad to Argentina in 2016.

During the summer after my Freshman year at Pepperdine, I bought an Intuos Wacom tablet and the drawing program Clip Studio Paint Pro. I was so tired of feeling restricted by materials (pens, sketchbooks, pencils, etc.) and I felt like getting into digital illustration would allow me to expand my knowledge and willingness to learn new techniques and principles. It was one of the greatest choices of my Life!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I expected things to go smoothly, but growth is always going to include a few aches and pains! I realized how important it was to remain consistent and to focus more on what you can do today rather than wonder how long the journey with take. There is always time to reflect and adjust the plan, but becoming an artist and deciding to make a living off of my own creativity was a much larger venture than I could have anticipated. It became less about achieving and more about being happy with all that I involved myself in.

Recently, I’ve learned the beauty of being present and whole in whatever I am doing. There’s no way to truly give back, say thank you to your audience from an empty cup. When you create, you send a message to your audience and that’s a privilege. No one is obligated to engage with your work which is why it’s such a blessing to be someone who is able to create art that people enjoy!

I like to see results quickly and that can be a major mental hindrance on a creator. I had to learn “how to learn”, if that makes sense. It’s easy, for example, to watch reels and YouTube tutorial videos, but practice and studying how to draw 3D forms, foreshortening, and/or line weight takes intention and focus for weeks and months.

The phrase, “You don’t need college to get an education” could be true, but I believe that people fail to see how much self-discipline it takes to walk your own creative journey. Throughout my time living in LA, I realized how much self-control was required to be an entrepreneur and creative at such a young age.

Letting go of parties, being far away from my family for months at a time (if not a full year), working odd jobs while learning how to scale my business, and overcoming my own shadow self (temptations, overwork, mental health, physical health) meant sacrificing my 20s for the sake of living more comfortably later on. Even now it’s a challenge, but I have many people that are excited to see me succeed so regardless of the struggles, I know that any obstacle can be overcome.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I focus my art around anime but with undertones of surrealism and spirituality. I love line art and the level of detail you can create when creating digital art. If we have infinite pixels, why NOT learn how to push and pull light to an almost realistic degree?

Anime has been a major inspiration in learning how to draw, and many artists feel the same. Because of this, I make it a point to make my art style as unique and versatile as possible. I do commission work, and I also go to different comic conventions to sell digital prints of my work. I’ve learned that making a career from my art means offering many different services. This also means that I must be careful, I would never want to provide a service where I can’t guarantee quality work!

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Marina is such a dope area once you get you get a schedule down! I say that because you’ll be wandering around the city for hours whether it’s walking or driving. I get to go to the beach whenever I desire AND the sunsets are insane! They make me forget how much I miss the sunsets in Texas.

On top of that, the flowers in the neighborhoods are so pleasant, they help me get away from working at home all the time. Finally, it’s good to know that I’m in a city that isn’t too crowded or high traffic. It reminds me of my hometown the more I think about it.

Pricing:

• Digital Prints: $15.00USD – $30.00USD
• Commissions: $100.00USD – $400.00USD
• Digital Marketing: $350 – $700/mo

Contact Info:

• Website: https://merakiuniverse.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/merakiuniverse.art?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merakiuniverseart?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chanse-alexander-049336108
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@merakiuniverse5665
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/merakialexander

Image Credits
2nd Photo: https://instagram.com/v.h.d_entertainment?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=