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GM GM Everyone,

I had the chance to sit down with LexDoom recently and to ask him some questions. Lex has been an artist that I have seen around Twitter for quite sometime now. In my neck of the woods there are many collectors that I speak to on a daily basis that are big fans of his. Although personally I do not have many pieces by him, I have always enjoyed his style and resonated with it for a long time. When reading the thoughtful answers that LexDoom gave me, what stood out to me and something that I admired of him is just how much of a family man or father figure he is.

As a recent father myself, I have been trying to juggle work, home, and my creative outlets like creating content and it was rough for me early on. But somehow I pushed through even though I was not sleeping and seeing someone like LexDoom with his success also juggling it all, it made me feel more connected to him that ever before.

So grab a cup of coffee, sit down, and I hope you enjoy this interview with one of finest pixel masters there is.

Interview

What are five words you would use to describe yourself? and why?

Versatile, strategic, unique, bold, and approachable—I think these words capture my artistic identity and style. As a designer in my day-to-day work, I embrace versatility, shifting between different creative expressions. In the realm of my art, I embody a strategic approach, planning each release and collection well in advance. My style, I believe, stands out for its distinctiveness and boldness, evident in its pixel style, color scheme, consistency, and the diverse subjects I explore. Moreover, I take pride in being approachable, finding joy in socializing, supporting fellow artists, welcoming feedback, and connecting with both collectors and peers.

What are some of your hobbies or activities you like to do to unplug from the space?

When I do take a step away, it’s to spend quality time with my family, who are my biggest inspiration and support system. With my kids involved in numerous activities, their busy schedules keep mine equally occupied. While I try to prioritize staying active through exercise, I find little time for other pursuits amidst my parenting commitments and responsibilities.

Any that inspire your work?

As an artist, I draw inspiration from many talented individuals within the creative space. However, if I were to highlight two figures who have had a significant impact on my work, it would undoubtedly be XCOPY and Beeple. Their innovative approaches and continuous exploration of new concepts have been a big inspiration for me.

Do you think your upbringing influenced your art in anyway? How so?

Art has been a passion of mine since my junior high days. Back then, my focus was on fashionable art, particularly designing shoes. I spent hours sketching and conceptualizing the next pair of iconic sneakers, envisioning them being worn by legends like Michael Jordan or Shaquille O’Neal. However, it wasn’t until my college years that I began to merge my love for art with my interest in computers, transitioning into digital design.

How would you describe your art?

Distinct yet cohesive—can those two qualities coexist? I believe so. When I describe my art, I use the term 'unique' because of my signature pixel style, which has become unmistakably associated with my work. However, I also emphasize 'consistent' because I intentionally adhere to a specific color palette, creating a sense of cohesion across my pieces. While some may prefer a variety in color, drawing from my background in brand design, I aimed to establish a recognizable identity for my art, centered around the pixel style and color scheme. Despite this consistency, I'm constantly exploring a diverse array of subjects to inject variety into my creations.

I saw you joined twitter in the middle of 2022? What made you take the leap into web3 and twitter as a whole?

The decision was driven by a multitude of factors. Firstly, the evolving landscape of digital art and the emergence of web3 technologies presented an exciting opportunity along with new avenues for creativity. Twitter, being a prominent platform for connecting with fellow artists, collectors, and enthusiasts, offered a vibrant community where I could showcase my work and engage in meaningful conversations about art.

You waited about 6 months before you minted your first piece (death by a thousand pixels). What made you take the leap to mint your first piece? And why this piece?

A number of factors contributed to that time gap, primarily work commitments outside of this space. Recognizing the importance of Twitter in marketing my art, I wanted to secure my handle in advance.

Regarding why 'death by a thousand pixels' was my inaugural artwork minted, it encapsulated everything I envisioned for my style moving forward. From its distinctive pixelated aesthetic and dark, skull-centric theme to the glitching pixels and evocative title, every element felt emblematic of the direction I aimed to pursue.

It appears since your first mint you had a distinct style, how did you land or find this style?

It was definitely a journey of trial and error. While I've long been fascinated by pixel art, I was aware of the abundance of talented pixel artists in the space. So, I set out to carve a niche for myself by exploring how I could blend technology with my workflow to stand out. Once I honed in on my unique style and color palette, my focus shifted to optimizing my creation process for efficiency. This led me to establish a standardized process for each piece I create, alongside the development of customized filters, brushes, and actions tailored to my specific requirements.

Any tips on how to find your niche/style for an up and coming artist?

Experiment freely. A lot can be learned from other artists. Blending styles often leads to unique and interesting results. If you can come up with a look that hasn’t been seen, you might be onto something big.

Is there anyone in your life (web3, history, irl) that inspires you? If so, what are the biggest lessons you have learned from them?

My kids are my greatest inspiration. They motivate me to keep pushing and dedicating those extra hours to my craft in this space. Everything I do here is for them, and I don’t intend to slow down anytime soon.

What inspired your name?

As a child, I was immersed in the world of comic books, particularly drawn to their narratives and colorful characters. When envisioning my artistic identity, I knew I wanted to infuse elements of the darker side of these stories. Inspired by this, I decided to blend two iconic supervillains, Lex Luthor and Doctor Doom, to create my persona: Lex Doom. This fusion not only pays homage to my childhood influences but also serves as a symbolic representation of the complex and multifaceted nature of my artistic expression.

You joined right as the bear market was getting started, how are you coping with this bear market?

For me, navigating the bear market feels like the norm, given that I entered the space after the frenzy of 2020/2021. It's intriguing to ponder how things might have unfolded if I had been creating during that period, although the current challenges are not without their lessons. Thankfully, I have the stability of a traditional job to weather the slower market phases. This balance allows me to approach my art at my own pace, aligning with my long-term plans and ensuring I can cultivate my collections thoughtfully. Relying solely on earnings from my art would likely hinder this process, so maintaining a dual focus is essential for my creative journey.

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day for me is a balancing act between various roles and responsibilities. Mornings often begin with getting my kids ready for school and dropping them off before starting my day job. Throughout the day, I manage my tasks at work while also finding moments to check in on my Discord community and engage with others on Twitter. Finding time to work on new art is also a priority, although it varies depending on my other commitments throughout the day. I try to keep my evenings open so that I can momentarily disconnect and spend time with my family.

You recently joined Farcaster, what do you think so far?

At the moment, I'm mainly considering it as a backup for Twitter. To be honest, I haven't had the chance to thoroughly understand it yet. Time has been a constraint, so my joining was primarily to secure my handle.

You recently did a collab with sunken0x, how did this come about?

I have a Tezos collection made up solely of collaborations, which has been an incredible experience, allowing me to work alongside incredible artists. I've always been a big fan of sunken0x's work, so when I proposed the idea of collaborating and it was accepted, I was thrilled. As mentioned earlier, blending diverse styles and mediums often leads to remarkable outcomes. The fusion of our two styles felt seamless and resulted in something truly special, which I'm immensely pleased with.

Have you considered doing another collab with others? Or do you think these deter from your main body of work?

I'm definitely looking forward to more collaborations. It's one of the unique advantages we have in this space compared to traditional artists. The ability to digitally transfer files and collaborate with artists from around the world on the same piece of art is an incredibly enriching experience. Not only does it spark the creation of new ideas and perspectives, but it also opens doors to new collectors and expands our audience. I plan to keep all of my collaborations in separate collections to maintain the storytelling aspect in my main body of work. However, I see the right collaborations as a win/win opportunity.

Do you have any goals for 2024?

2024 is shaping up to be an exciting year. While it may seem like a slow start with few releases, there's actually a lot happening behind the scenes. I've been diligently working on two new collections for over six months now, and they're set to launch soon. Additionally, I'm in the process of finalizing some commitments I've made within my collaboration and Mxseum collections.

You recently launched a merch store? How was that process for you? Any lessons learned you can share with others?

In the early stages of my design career, I spent many years working within the apparel industry, and much of what I learned during that time still influences my approach today. Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind:

1. Always test your product before launching. Some of the vendors I tested had their prints crack and not hold up after a few washes.

2. Determine how you want to fulfill orders. Given my chaotic schedule, I opted to partner with vendors who could receive and ship orders without any action required on my end. While partnering with vendors like this may result in lower profits, I didn't launch my store primarily for profit. It was done purely as an offering for my collectors, so convenience and quality were my top priorities.

Do you collect any pieces from any other artists, if so who are your favorites?

I do collect pieces from other artists. Last year alone, I acquired over 400 artworks. While I wish I could collect even more, I often miss drops because I'm deeply focused on creating new art most of the time. As for favorites, there are so many artists whose work I admire, and I wouldn't want to overlook anyone. However, I do have a strong preference for glitch art; there's something about that aesthetic that really resonates with me and seems to endure in this space. Instead of naming specific artists, I'll share my all-time favorite piece of art, which is 'MORTAL' by XCOPY. It's a piece I deeply admire, although I know I'll never have the opportunity to own it.

Final Remarks

A true pleasure chatting with LexDoom and I appreciate his patience as he answered these questions a while back but I had a full plate of interviews already lined up.

What really stood out to me about all of this is the level of professionalism and calmness that LexDoom evoked. He strikes me as someone that does not get too worked up in real life and is present with family. Something that I admire as this space can suck you up and impact your relationships with your loved ones, so the fact that LexDoom really focuses on his family I have to give him props.

I really enjoyed the fact that LexDoom recognized he is busy with IRL activities and he wants to prioritize those IRL people or items as well, so when it comes to Web3 he tackles things at his own pace and partners with vendors that can take that load off of him. A key insight that other artists can learn from. When you are building from the ground up, you have to be a marketer, an artist, sometimes even some dev and more. So why not focus on what you are great at and surround yourself with those people that can help.

Fin

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