Slow Down With
ALEXIS PAGE
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Meet Alexis Page, an artist and character designer at Cartoon Network. She shares the importance of rest, the act of doing nothing, and having creative outlets outside of work. Hear her thoughts on life, mindful living, and personal style.
10
Tell us about your career journey thus far:
I've always loved to draw and always wanted to do it for a living. According to my mom, I’ve been drawing since age two. When I was five, my mom took me to see The Lion King. I was in awe of the moving pictures and asked my mom how the drawings could do that. She said, animation. I told her I wanted to do that when I was older. So, twenty-something years later, here I am working in animation!
What about your profession lights you up?
I love that I have a creative career. I’m constantly evolving my style and taste. I also get to work with a fantastic crew of artists who continuously introduce me to different kinds of art.
The Eugenia
01
Tell us about your work as a character designer:
To put it simply, I draw the people and creatures you see in animated tv shows.
Working on animated shows involves a lot of planning. We first get our prompt for the episode, then plan it out by making roughs, and usually do revisions after that. It’s a very collaborative process which I appreciate.
Where do you find inspiration? What fuels you?
I tend to find inspiration from people I see in everyday life.
It could be as simple as their hair color or how they put together their outfit. A lot of what I do for work is observation. Many of the characters I draw are influenced by a person I've seen IRL.
I’ll often get inspiration for a color palette on Pinterest, Instagram, from art, or in nature during a walk. One of my fave color palettes is red, fuchsia and orange. I also love how cadmium red and light blue look together.
What interests are a large part of your identity?
Creating fashion content feeds my soul. My job is so demanding that I tend not to feel like making art in my free time. Putting together an outfit is an artistic compromise, like creating a new character without drawing it.
I started enjoying the act of getting dressed in middle school when my mom started taking me to Nordstrom Rack. It was almost like a treasure hunt, shopping there and staying within my budget. Ever since, I've been experimenting with clothing as a creative outlet.
My passion for interior design is recent. I'm constantly drawn to mid-century modern, the set design of Emma 2020, museums, and Jungalow. My style still reflects that, but there's also a touch of art studio mixed in.
Slow Moments
01
Slow Moments
02
Slow Moments
03
Where can we find you on the weekend?
I’m either at my local farmers market, Huntington Library or somewhere else in LA!
Growing up in Southern California’s inland empire, I spent many weekends in the greater Los Angeles area. One thing that’s amazing about LA is the diversity. You can learn about traditions, cultures, and cuisines right in your backyard.
I chose to live in Los Angeles mainly because I was tired of driving 2 hours to work. I chose my neighborhood since it’s close to work and all the places I like to go (also, the rent was somewhat affordable).
How do you slow down after a long day?
I’m taking it easy on the couch with my cat, firing up Animal Crossing, or attempting a sewing project.
The Eugenia
02
What slow moments do you savor the most?
Making time to rest is so important to me. Sometimes it feels like so much is happening all at once, and stopping to rest is vital.
Resting for me is doing nothing. I’ve been running on all cylinders since 2012 and have been dealing with burnout ever since. I enjoy my work, but it consumes most of my creativity. So, I like to spend my free time relaxing or doing nothing to recharge.
What moments bring you the most joy?
Game and movie nights with friends. Nothing is more fun than hollering at the screen with your friends!
What does mindful living look like to you?
Not being hard on myself. We’re all just getting by the best we can.
What steps do you take to show up authentically?
I listen to my body, act accordingly, and consciously don’t stretch myself too thin.
Do you have any rituals that help keep your mind clear?
Taking breaks from Instagram. The endless scrolling and constantly seeing people living your dreams can be very discouraging. I peace out for as long as I want and come back when I’m in the mood.
What does consuming thoughtfully mean to you?
Take care of what you have, shop your closet, and do your best.
I try my hardest to fix clothes. I alter clothes ALL the time! I've hiked up the elastic shoulder straps on a dress because it didn't hang right. I've made too many darts to count. I'm currently turning an ill-fitting sweater into a sweater vest. Recently, I bought a beautiful wool sweater from Facebook Marketplace. Unfortunately, the seller neglected to tell me there were many small moth holes in it. I then darned all the holes (to the best of my abilities).
Slow Moments
04
Slow Moments
05
Slow Moments
06
How did you learn to dress for yourself?
I was into emo fashion in middle school and wanted nothing more than to look like a sk8r girl. After that, I was really into the indie fashion of the 2010s.
My current style is eclectic or artsy. It’s a blend of 70's teen, regency revival, boho granola mom, Madewell millennial, clown core, vintage, and garden core. I lean towards specific pieces rather than a particular style or subcategory. I've always been like this. It's liberating, doing your own thing and wearing whatever you want! I suspect my style will continuously evolve, but the main vibes will stay the same.
What are you wearing when you feel the most like yourself?
Depending on the weather, something comfortable, like a colorful top and jacket. Comfortable shoes always, usually a flat sneaker or a short heel. And fun accessories, like a colorful headwrap or headband and some funky earrings.
The Eugenia
03
What do you love about the ZX style you chose, and how has it filled gaps in your wardrobe?
I chose the Eugenia in Copper. Copper is a fun play on a neutral and creates a perfectly dressed-up shoe. Copper is so sexy. It’s a cute going out shoe!