Interview: Alyssa Joy

Meg Duffy: When did you first start to focus on art seriously as a career?

Alyssa Joy: Well, I’ve been drawing ever since I can remember. From the time I was very little I always knew art was my favorite subject in school. I always felt like it was the only thing I was really good at, that I excelled in. I was that kid who all the other kids came to when they needed help drawing something, or just plain wanted to see if I could draw whatever I requested. All my art teachers through the years took notice of my talent and were very supportive, encouraging me to take part in art activities like painting school murals and entering competitions. It wasn’t until high school that I realized I was passionate enough about art to seek it out as a career path. I didn’t know what to expect from that. I just knew I didn’t want to do anything else, like God designed me specifically to be an artist, and any other path wouldn’t feel right. By my senior year in high school, my schedule was filled with art classes, I was president of the art club, and I had a permanent pass from study hall to the art room. So high school is definitely when I started to embrace my passion as a possible career. It was a goal that finally seemed tangible.

Why did you choose illustration over other mediums?

In high school, I was exposed to a variety of mediums: acrylic paint, watercolor, pastel, oil pastel, charcoal, clay, etc. While I liked some better than others, I still had a place in my heart for all of them. I could never stick with any one medium to work with. I liked to draw, I liked to paint, and I liked having the freedom to experiment, to explore. And I was inspired by a variety of artists, from all different periods.

My first year of college was the foundation year, when they train the freshmen in the basics. In drawing classes, I was exposed yet again to all the things I loved to draw with, and learned new ways to use them. In 2D I learned more about painting in acrylic, and discovered ways to include other materials into my paintings. I was also exposed to graphic design for the first time really. And in sculpture, all the word around became a possibility when it came to being creative. In all of this I learned creative problem solving, and my passion for art grew even more than ever. And every week I learned about more and more artists.

So, sophomore year was when we all started branching off to work toward different fields of art. Some students knew exactly what they were there for, whether it was painting or photography or graphic design. I didn’t know what I wanted to do because I still liked everything I had tried my hand at. The only limitations I felt I had lied in my technical skills as an artist, not in the mediums I used. I still wanted to explore and grow. In the end, I decided on illustration because I felt it was the program that would best facilitate my artistic needs and desires. I knew I would learn how to draw better, to paint better, and still have the opportunity to experiment with a variety of mediums. I even got a taste of mediums I’d never tried before, like oil paint and ink wash, and I learned a whole new creative process overall. Illustration, I learned, has virtually no limits. It can be anything. Any style. Any medium. As an illustrator, I have the freedom to express every and any artistic desire within me. If I want to draw, I can draw. If I want to paint, I can paint. If I want to play in the mud, I can play in the mud.

Not every artist goes to art school, but you did. How did you make the decision and how did you decide on the University of Hartford?

To be perfectly honest, I fell into the mindset that most kids in high school do. You go to college after school because that’s just what you do. That’s what come next. And I didn’t really know what to look for as far as art schools went. My art teacher really helped me out with everything. She had taken a great interest in my future as an artist, and did everything she could to encourage me. When I told her I was thinking about attending a nearby community college, she pleaded with me to reach higher. She said I was better than that, and that I should go where I could be challenged.

I don’t think my parents were exactly sure about me going to art school, not sure what kind of job I could get doing art. But they loved me and supported me anyway. I applied to Uconn, Southern, and Hartford. I didn’t really have the means to apply anywhere else. I got accepted to Uconn academically, but I hadn’t been able to have a portfolio review, an so I wasn’t able to get into the art program. Southern didn’t even require a portfolio review, so while I was accepted, I was skeptical that the art program was very serious at all.

The Hartford Art School was actually my dream school. I had heard very good things about it. And a representative of the school came into my class and gave a presentation. He had a slide show with many pictures of student works, and explained all the kinds of things they got to do at the school. I was hooked. I longed to learn what those students were learning. I wanted to make art as beautiful and as clever as theirs. The representative, after his presentation, looked at my portfolio at the request of my teacher. He made a decision right in front of me. He liked what he saw and accepted me on artistic merit to the Hartford Art School. All I had to do was apply academically and wait for an official answer.

I got in! I almost didn’t get to go, though, because my parents said it was too expensive. Then my dad and I went to a parent/student open house kind of thing, where we got a tour of the school. At the end of the day, my dad basically said, “We’ll make it work.” He liked it that much and wanted me to be able to go.

What kind of opportunities did UHart afford you?

There’s a LOT I can say about that. I loved the art program. It was very challenging and very stressful at times, but it forced me to think differently about the creative process. My work ethic got better, as did my motivation to do the very best work I could. The professors are all very educated and passionate about what they do. They were willing to teach if I was willing to learn. And if I didn’t understand something, I was never afraid to ask. One of my favorite things about my professors was how understanding they were, and how encouraging. Even now that I am out of school, they are a constant resource to me. I could always, and still can, email them with questions or concerns. My senior year I discovered a medium I’d never used before, and though it wasn’t part of the curriculum, I was able to learn how to use it. I went to the professors who had knowledge of it, and went to them in my spare time. Even professors I’d had only one semester, or never at all, were willing to answer my questions.

Besides the art program and great professors, I’ve made many new friends. (I even met my husband through a very close friend I had made my freshman year.) I loved being part of a community. Sometimes you learn things from other students that you never thought you would. Like how to use a toothbrush to splatter paint so you get a speckled texture. I was constantly encouraged and inspired by the people around me. The opportunity to meet different people, with different personalities, and from all different parts of the world was a great part about going to college.

I was also able to take part in different service trips through Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, like New Orleans for Katrina relief, and Hartford Urban Plunge to learn about the North End and meet people in the area. These experiences inspired me to come back and express what I saw and learned through my artwork. It was how I began learning to put my two greatest passions together: art and faith.

How is being a post-grad artist different from being a student? How are you navigating that transition?

Being an art student at college is a very rare and precious opportunity. At college, you are constantly surrounded by your element. Everyone in your classes is striving for the same things. You eat, sleep, and breath art everyday. And because you are always drawing, always painting, always brainstorming, and always working to make your deadlines, you are constantly being sharpened in your craft. You don’t have the option of getting rusty or losing motivation. You may not always be in the mood to work, but you do it because you have to. That is something I miss about college.

After you graduate, there are no professors giving you assignments, no pressure to draw everyday, no class to get to on time. You lose the environment that drives you to make art until you are stressed out. This may seem like a good thing, and in some cases it is, but when you are on your own in the real world, you have to do anything you can to keep yourself motivated. You have to look for ways of staying in touch with other artists, people that you know will challenge and encourage you.

Personally, I have a hard time drawing everyday. Sometimes it takes a lot of effort to just sit down and tell myself to draw. As far as the transition though, I’d have to say I feel like I never got a real taste of what it’s like to be your average graduate. My whole life since graduation has been one HUGE transition. After I graduated, but I didn’t really have time to think about what I was going to do next as far as art goes, because I jumped right into the next big thing, which was planning my wedding (and trying to find a place to live). I did try to find time to draw and paint a little, and I even made my own thank you cards as an excuse to draw and be creative. So post-grad, marriage, moving into an apartment… all big changes in the last several months!

So how am I navigating the transition? Well, everyday is a new day. Sometimes I play it by ear, but most of the time I try to have have a plan. And I make a lot of lists. Always gotta have a list. And now that I’m getting used to married life, I’m learning new ways to keep myself going. I take pictures when I can, and sketch when I can. And sometimes I’ll start little projects that will have a potential final outcome so that I have something to look forward to.

What’s your proudest accomplishment as an artist so far?

Let’s see… I’d have to say that learning how to be productive while getting 8 hours of sleep almost every night is my favorite. As far as real accomplishments go, I’d have to say that graduating with honors and getting my BFA was a major highlight in my life. Particularly because I’m the first person in my family (at least on my dad’s side) to finish college and get a degree. Crossing the stage to receive my diploma was such an overwhelming relief. Every all-nighter, every break down, every drop of sweat and tear shed, every bit of energy spent… all led up to a single moment that screamed, “You’ve finally made it! You’ve earned this!”

And while I am excited in the moment about all my accomplishments, I generally don’t think about the things I’ve done unless the knowledge I’ve gained from them concerns what I’m going to do next. Where am I going now? How am I getting there? How can I make better today what I did yesterday? And most importantly, what does God think and where is he taking me? That is the mindset I try to have when it comes to my goals.

Tell me a bit about the Open Sketch Book Society. Who’s in it? What do you do? How does it keep you motivated?

The Open Sketch Book Society is a collaborative art blog that was started by my former classmate, Jenna Zona. It was created in an effort to retain that sense of art community among our classmates. Not everyone from our class is on it, but there are quite a few of us. It is a place for us to post recent sketches or things we’re working on. Sometimes it’s a way to just show people where you’re at, other times it’s to ask for help or get feedback. And sometimes, if you don’t know what to work on, there are occasional monthly challenges posted. You don’t have to do the challenges, but they are there to encourage and motivate people to keep making art.

The blog has been a good resource for me. I like checking up on people and seeing what they’re working on. It’s actually a good way to get inspired and motivated to do something when I haven’t posted anything in a while. The one thing that sometimes makes posting hard for people, though, is limited resources. Myself included, now that I don’t have my dad’s scanner to use all the time. At school we had access to scanners and bright lamps for taking good photos. You don’t always have those options outside of school. But you do whatever you can to let people know you are still alive and drawing. For example, I emailed Jenna about the current commission I’m working on and asked if she would check in with me on certain days to see where I am in my schedule. Having another artist to keep you accountable is a great way to stay motivated.

What’s on the bill next? Any projects in the works?

I still have to get my name officially changed. I’ll be going from Alyssa Joy Byram to Alyssa Joy Lewis. I’ve been using Alyssa Joy as a transition name in terms of my artist identity.

Art-wise, I am currently working on a personal commission for someone. It is being given to her boyfriend as a Christmas present. I plan to have it done by the end of November.

I was also recently asked by a local author to illustrate a book. I have not signed the contract yet, so it is not official, but I hope it works out because I would love to have that kind of opportunity. I was job hunting in the area until that offer came along. If I take the book job, I will need all my time to work on it. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll continue to apply to jobs in the area. Of course, I wouldn’t be able to afford the luxury of waiting for a job if it weren’t for the encouragement and support of my wonderful husband.

For personal projects, I have started a little silverpoint portrait of my friend. It’s the kind of thing I like to do in my spare time, aside from casual doodling. I also hope to start an art ministry at my church in the near future. Other goals include illustrating something for my husband and my sister. Both are very good writers, and it would be great to work with people I love.

Visit Alyssa Joy’s Website: alyssajoyart.com