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Alexander Romans ��򽴫ý�21 only started painting last summer, but he��򽴫ý�s already taking the art world by storm. Known as Harris-Lee Rose, he��򽴫ý�s been featured in art exhibitions both locally and internationally, and he��򽴫ý�s even posting videos of his late-night painting sessions.

Finding the right college was pretty straightforward for Alexander Romans ��򽴫ý�21. ��򽴫ý�I grew up in the tri-state area and wanted to make sure that I stayed close to the city while in college,��򽴫ý� he told us, and Pace was a natural fit. However, he was on quite a different path when he first started out, and it wasn��򽴫ý�t until he completed a sixth-month internship in the real estate industry that he began to reassess his plans.

��򽴫ý�I was full of confusion, unease, and slight frustration,��򽴫ý� Romans told us. ��򽴫ý�I knew I didn��򽴫ý�t want to work in the field because my heart simply wasn��򽴫ý�t in it.��򽴫ý� To release some of that frustration, he began painting��򽴫ý�and his love (not to mention talent) for the medium took off. ��򽴫ý�I haven��򽴫ý�t stopped ever since,��򽴫ý� he said, having switched to a major in art with a focus in graphic design that very next semester.

Romans has built quite the name for himself online since. Under his artist name Harris-Lee Rose, he posts  and  of his process, most of which occurs late at night. ��򽴫ý�I normally create around 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. If I��򽴫ý�m having a very unique night, then I will continue on until sunrise the following morning,��򽴫ý� he explained. He also plays music to keep him going, although ��򽴫ý�after an hour or so, the music tunes out and simply becomes background sounds.��򽴫ý�

��򽴫ý�I truly never thought I would be involved in the art world, let alone be an artist."

It��򽴫ý�s no easy feat for anyone to launch a social media presence. Romans is as much an artist as he is a marketing and brand strategist, expertly incorporating his creative process and completed works into weekly vlogs. ��򽴫ý�I approach marketing myself as another artistic outlet,��򽴫ý� he told us, ��򽴫ý�as well as a form of personal and public documentation of my artwork and process. I only act on what feels true and creative to me��򽴫ý�nothing else.��򽴫ý�

And the art world is taking notice. He��򽴫ý�s participated in group art exhibitions both locally and internationally, including a recent solo exhibition right in his home state of New Jersey. With that experience under his belt, Romans is already looking toward the future. ��򽴫ý�I plan to start painting on clothing, illustrate [and] write a book, and continue to document and push toward getting deeper into the art world,��򽴫ý� he said.

To date, his most memorable moment was seeing his work displayed in a public space alongside other artists. ��򽴫ý�I truly never thought I would be involved in the art world, let alone be an artist,��򽴫ý� Romans told us. ��򽴫ý�It all seemed��򽴫ý�and to a degree, still does��򽴫ý�very surreal. It [...] seems to all be moving so fast.��򽴫ý� We can��򽴫ý�t say we��򽴫ý�re surprised. He��򽴫ý�s too talented not to be noticed and uplifted into the art industry!

With everything he��򽴫ý�s accomplished so far, and so quickly, we had to ask: does he experience ��򽴫ý�art blocks��򽴫ý� that slow or prevent his creative process? The answer: yes, but he has a clever way of dealing with them. ��򽴫ý�The only way I deal with ��򽴫ý�art blocks��򽴫ý� is by switching my medium, and it works every time for me. If I��򽴫ý�m exhausted mentally of painting, I will draw��򽴫ý�and vice versa.��򽴫ý�

Romans is well on his way to taking the art world by storm, and we can��򽴫ý�t wait to see where his next project will take him. Be sure to keep an eye on his social presence��򽴫ý�this artist is going places.