“Nothing Better” Released Worldwide today!!!
Author:
Alexis Vear
Kaboom
Monday I celebrated my 45th birthday. Out of all my birthday years I think this might be the one I’m most excited about. Not the number 45, but the fact that all these things I’ve spent my life preparing and nurturing are finally coming to fruition in a way that brings me such joy.
If you are in town I would love to see you this Saturday, May 2nd. . I will be performing a set of my original music with a full band at Smith’s Olde Bar opening for Robin Dean Salmon. I take the stage from 7-8PM. I can’t even wait!!! Thrilled to have Matthew Smith, Kent Aberle, and Roy Hinshaw join me. There is nothing like performing with a band of top notch musicians!!! I am so thankful for this blessing!!!
Check Out Rain
This month I had a new song released. I was honored to sing lead vocals on a JAZZ song called “Rain” by Portland Cementthatbenefits addiction recovery efforts in Atlanta. It was recorded at Zac Recording and I am so grateful I was invited to be a part of this compilation. Recording at Zac was just incredible. Here is a link to listen.
Also, I had the honor of visiting the local CBS affiliate in Atlanta with Jeannie Labato, founder of drawchange. The interview was a blast. Here is a link. We had know idea what we would be asked. After the interview I wrote a blog about all the things I did not say, that I wanted to say. here is a link to the blog.
Commission
This month I have received four oil painting commissions. I just finished a painting for a client in the San Francisco area. I had never met the client. They saw my work on the internet and contacted me and sent me the image. I mailed it today and is was. thrilling to work with someone across the country I did not know and be able to paint something so meaningful. Here is the painting.
I am still working with Southern Tracks on my recording through the time I won last year with 500 Songs For Kids. Although I have not finished the recording yet, I did perform The Carpenters “We’ve Only Just Begun” for there annual benefit. Here is a link to see the performance at The Earl. If you want to learn more about The Songs For Kids Foundation, click here. https://www.songsforkidsfoundation.org/alexisvear
I’ve got a lot of incredible things I’m working on behind the scenes but will wait to share in the next message!!! Until then, THANK YOU sooooooo much for your continued support!!! Can’t even wait to share the next email!!! HAPPY SPRING!!!
Sending a ton of love and light your way!!!
Lex
Black Friday Sale
Greetings!!! I can’t believe the holidays are here. I have been working for months on my store so I could share my art with you!!! Today is the day!!! Check out my Painting or Store page. My prints are finally available, just in time for the holidays. All prints are Giclee reproductions created using the highest quality, fade resistant archival inks. The result is a durable print that will last through time. Available in select sizes, on canvas or 100% cotton rag watercolor paper. Additional sizes available upon request. I am offering a select line of frames, but honestly, the plane canvas prints are GORGEOUS. Canvas’ are 1 1/2″ deep, and are timeless and clean standing on there own.
I have had so much going on, and will fill you in, in the next blog. New songs, new original art, new EVERYTHING for me. I have had a lot of BIG life changes this year. Don’t let anyone ever tell you getting older is not fun!!! Although this year has brought quite a bit of unexpected loss and surprises, it has also brought a ton of unexpected joy, adventure, and miracles. I hope you find joy in my paintings. My engine is roaring, so keep an eye out on my site. Oh…..The places we will go!!! Until the next blog……I hope you enjoy the reason for the season. Life is a gift!!! Best to enjoy it!!! 🙂
Live From Zennest
Excited to share this video with you!!! What an amazing experience!!! Being invited to perform at the Zennest in Utah was such an incredible honor. You can not even imagine the beauty and magnificent of this luxury rental property just outside of Cedar City, Utah. Here is a link . If you are looking for a remote spot to connect with someone special, or even just connect yourself, I highly advice this destination. I am a complete nature lover, so to be able to spend a long weekend here performing, sitting on the observation deck by day, and under the stars at night was surreal. I hope you could feel the beautiful energy of the surroundings in the video!!! Thanks for visiting. Thankful for YOU, Zennest, and this adventure called life!!! Love and peace always!!!
Mark Your Calendar
Mark Your Calendar!!!
With my whole heart, I hope you are happy and healthy!!!
As we find ourselves exiting the forest of the pandemic, I am amazed at all the miles we each have traveled alone and collectively. It has been over a year since I last wrote.
First of all, mark your calendar for Sunday, June 13, 2021 at 2pm EST. I will be bringing you a live stream concert in conjunction with “Zennest” perched high on a mountain top in southern Utah. It will be a visual and audible treat you will never forget! I will be making a special announcement during the concert.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I began doing a weekly solo Facebook LIVE series. The experience of connecting to lifelong friends and new people from all over the world brought me great peace, and kept my head up during an unforgettable summer living in the heart of Atlanta, GA. Through it all, I was constantly reminded that LOVE is stronger than FEAR. “Mercy”, By Dave Mathews helped me keep my head on straight. Incidentally, it was the first song I ever played when my Facebook LIVE series began.
In August, I returned to the classroom to teach middle school art. Our school was not remote. Teaching has always been an important part of my life, in addition to creating music and fine art. Without time to practice, I had to end the weekly Facebook LIVE. That HURT deeply!
Over Thanksgiving, I had the opportunity to work with the most brilliant artist and producer that I have ever had the good fortune to collaborate with. His name is Ron Blair. Again, I will share more during the live feed June 13th. He is a Yoda to my world in the truest sense.
In January with winter break and more time, I signed up for a songwriting production class through Monthly with Ryan Tedder. It was the most fun I have ever had learning independently. l wrote and produced two songs. Both will be released later this year. I can’t thank Monthly, and Ryan Tedder enough for all I learned.
In February, after returning to teach from the winter break, I caught Covid. My eyes burned, my head hurt, I lost my taste, I was in a fog, and after two weeks in bed, I truly became a changed woman.
In March, I applied to travel into space through a mission called dearMoon, financed by Yasuka Maezawa and propelled by SpaceX. I was interviewed by the renowned Mark Yarm. My students and I were very excited!!! You can read the interview here. I have not heard anything yet from dearMoon. Regardless, I am grateful for the opportunity to realize one of my wildest dreams. I am in awe that I live in a time where space travel has become a reality. Fingers still crossed.
Two weeks ago, school ended for summer. I am now back with my guitar glued to my hand, and ready to ROCK more than EVER.
June 13th is going to be a blast at “Zennest.” Don’t forget to tune in and catch my set and special announcement amongst the backdrop from this treasure found in southern Utah.
Solo Acoustic
I hope everyone is doing well!!! The quarantine has been interesting to say the least. My Life has been extremely busy for many years, that in a strange way it has been a gift during this pandemic to be quiet. I have had time to be reminded of the things that bring me real peace. Singing, playing music, writing, and taking long walks have been the anchors that have kept this ship from getting lost in the storm.
As a professional, I have had an accompanist during my performances, but with Covid I have been doing a weekly Solo Facebook Live and posting additional songs. I wanted to share two of my favorites I have posted recently in this blog. I plan on continuing this. I am looking forward to a show in the park in Rutledge GA on June 19th. Directions are under the shows tab of my website. If you live in the area I would love to see you!!!
I hope you enjoy these songs as much as I enjoy singing them and playing them!!! Wishing everyone an incredible Memorial Day weekend!!!
Sincerely,
Alexis
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
When I think about how Martin Luther King, Jr. changed the world it just leaves me in awe. Most of you do not know this, but in addition to being a musician and artist, I am an art teacher.
Last January, one of my middle school classes chose to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. for black history month. I pondered how we could do this in a way that would be impactful and create a memory etched in the students minds for a long long time.
I ended up creating a pop art painting of our honoree. After scanning it, I created a 6 ft x 6 ft mural on Adobe Illustrator and broke the mural into 64 tiles. I gave each student three or four tiles to recreate with oil pastels.
The students did not see my original pop art rendering. I wanted to wait and surprise them. As they worked on their tiles they grew bored and frustrated. All of them were so confused because their individual tile did not look like anything but a mess of different colors. When they voiced concern, I kept telling them “take care of the little things so the big things can fall into place.”
When the last tile was finished, I pieced them together and the children’s eyes grew bigger than the fullest moon I’ve ever seen. I have never been prouder of my students, or felt luckier to be a teacher than I did in that moment.
I wanted to share out masterpiece with you today, on this special day that we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. I hope he can feel our love and gratitude. Also, sending a ton of love to the King family!!!
After I started this project, I felt like all of my classes should pick someone great to honor. Being an artist, black history month is my very favorite month to celebrate. I have been inspired by so many incredible black human beings. I taught two fourth grade classes, two fifth grade classes and one sixth, seventh, and eighth.
I hope you enjoy these murals. We sure had a blast making them and had so much fun seeing what we could accomplish when we all worked together.
We have already started to prepare for next month. I will post in February.
Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day To You!!!
2019 Update
It’s been a while since I sent out an update. Thought today was the perfect day to share one. With mid-February here, the year 2019 has already started off as one of my favorites. I spent most of January updating my website and playing my guitar. I re-released both of my albums last month, and each of them, Never Give Up and Let It Go, can be found on all digital platforms meaning Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, etc…. Also, they can be found under the Music link at www.alexisvear.com/music.
Summer Misting
54″ X 54″ Oil On Canvas
Commission
SOLD
On the Fine Art front, I recently finished two large commissions and several dog portraits. Very exciting!!! I will blog about these later. You can now see all my art on my website at www.alexisvear.com/art. I’ve spent a lot of time working on my gallery. I hope you enjoy it.
Another highlight of January was a trip to Macon. If you have never been to Macon, you should plan a visit. There’s always something exciting happening there. On this particular weekend Charlie Starr performed in concert with Benji Shanks at Hargray Capitol Theatre on Friday evening. Charlie is the lead singer of Blackberry Smoke. Benji is one of my favorite guitarists and human beings as well. Saturday evening Tommy Talton and one of my favorite artists in the world, Randall Bramblett, played an anniversary tribute to Gregg Allman and Cowboys Laid Back release. My favorite part of the trip was a Saturday afternoon visit to a magical place. We were invited to Charlane Plantation. What a breathtaking afternoon. Charlane Plantation is home to Rose Lane and Chuck Leavell. Rose Lane is a fabulously talented painter / artist.
A beautiful Saturday afternoon at Charlane Plantation with Chuck and Rose Lane Leavell
Chuck is the keyboardist and musical director for The Rolling Stones. We sat by the warm kitchen fireplace, relaxed and talked with Chuck and Rose Lane prior to a tour of her lovely home, and all the plantation treasures. Her art was the treasure I was most grateful to see. She has studied with great painters around the world. Here is a link to Charlane Plantation to learn more. Rose Lane and I spoke of painting together sometime in the future. I will share pictures when we get that organized. It will be awhile because the SOLD OUT Rolling Stones North American Tour starts in April and Rose Lane will be joining them. The end of the month was exciting. I was blessed to join friends at the Atlanta Screen Actors Guild Awards Dinner on Peachtree Street where we sat at the center table in a standing room only venue.
A wonderful evening with Katherine Walden, John Charles Griffin, and producer Edwin Atkins
The beginning of February was buzzing with excitement as ATLANTA hosted the Super Bowl. I was invited to a fun party at Believe Music Hall. The festivities included a dancer with a fire torch gun blowing sparks all over the room and another dancing on a giant hula hoop hung from the ceiling. It was like the Cirque du Soleil happening at a party.
Visiting The Stable at Charlane Plantation with Rose Lane Leavell
As always, if you are interested in a commission or house concert, give me a shout. The rest of February should be exciting. I will post another update soon. Thanks for your interest and continued support.
The Background of Believe Music Hall
New Single Release May 7th
Really excited to release my new single May 7th called “My Father” just in time for Father’s Day. It will be available on iTunes, Spotify,Amazon, Etc…….
On My Way To The Grammy Awards In NYC
It’s been almost a year since I wrote a blog. Last year I said I was going to blog regularly, but I didn’t. It was a year of independence and private growth. This year I’m making no promises about blogging or anything else……I’m just living in the moment doing whatever I want, when I want. Feels pretty good so far!!!
First stop, The Grammy’s in NYC. I have been 
invited every year for the last decade and I am finally on a plane headed to NYC to see the 60th
Annual Celebration and I have gotten wind that U2 and Elton John are performing. My heart is full?.
I was invited to attend a party this evening for people that are making music to spread peace on earth….. Not sure what the rest of the weekend holds but this is a great start.
On the plane in first class….fun way to start!!!
Thankful to be enjoying another year around the sun with a first stop in NYC.
Sending you a hug and a ton of love!!!
Alexis
