The next generation of Lansing's doodlers

LaDanian Lewis hasn’t started sixth grade yet and already has a brand. Lewis, 10, is a self-identifying doodler who creates characters and illustrations that merge visual elements of Japanese manga and hip-hop with a Gen Z sentimentality. He will participate in his first artist market Saturday at The Fledge, a nonprofit incubator in Lansing.

The Best of Us for the Rest of Us is a pop-up art market hosted by Shannon Norris, who co-owns the Fledge with her husband, Jerry. The market will feature a variety of culinary, performance and visual artists, including Lewis and Martin Vargas, who over the past 10 years has landed solo shows across Michigan for his body of work he made while incarcerated. Norris said the format of the event reflects the art hub’s commitment to providing creative opportunities with “zero barrier entry.”

“For an art show, if you throw up roadblocks with fees to participate or make someone go before a panel of judges to be able to sell art — then so many people would never get to share their talents at all,” Norris said.

Lewis, who was born in Lansing, attends school at Waverly East Intermediate. He said his interest in doodling started in November when he discovered the Instagram pages of popular illustrators such as Gawx and Vince Okerman, or as his internet fans call him, Vexx.

“I was like wow, I want to do that,” Lewis said. “They inspire other people and that’s what I want to do.”

The new interest blindsided his mother, Latrice, when he asked for a pack of Copic markers for Christmas.

“They are like $400 for a full set of them, so I was like, ‘um, I don’t think so. You don’t even draw,’” said Lewis’ mother.

At the time, Lewis’ main hobbies were soccer and playing Fortnight. Eventually his mom caved in and bought him a six-pack of brand-new ink.

Since then, Lewis has kept his nose in his sketchbook — which he said occasionally gets him in trouble at school. The art rebel’s creations caught the eye of some of his classmates who inquire for drawing lessons, according to Lewis.

“It’s a source of entertainment and I want other people to draw more,” he said.

A lot of Lewis’ imagery comes from his dreams or Instagram, his favorite social media platform. The app helps him connect to a larger network of young creators who also emulate the style of popular doodlers such as Gawx, borrowing the artists’ bold line work, shape and color.

He said another reason he prefers Instagram is it allows him to collaborate on projects with artists his age from “the other side of the world.”

“It’s insane,” his mother said, referring to his international network.

The 10-year-old’s first art show was in March, where he turned his home into a gallery and sold 17 paintings. Lewis said he’s working on new collaborations, as well as several canvas pieces in preparation for ArtFeast in Old Town next month. Although Lewis is still in the early stages of honing his personal style, art is more than a new hobby — it’s his future.

“I don’t want to get stuck working at McDonald's as a vegetarian,” Lewis said.

The Best of Us for the Rest of Us

Saturday, July 27, 1 – 6 p.m.

The Fledge. 1300 Eureka St. Lansing

thefledge.com, (517) 230-7679

Sign up as a vendor at shanfnorris@gmail.com