We recently connected with Allison Severson and have shared our conversation below.
Allison, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
Well how far back should I go to give an accurate picture of how i feel i was destined for creative work. As of until recent, i have never been able to imagine my future career life as an artist.
As a child i wanted to be an archeologist or a figure skater, but that was only because of Indiana Jones and the Olympics on TV. The influences were all around, but art was not an early notion of what i wanted to do.
However, as a child, i loved creating things i engineered . like my own high heels, tree swing, pool (for the end of a slip-n-slide), sand box (by collecting sand after the winter from the end of the alley where it had built up). These were just a few of the ways that my creativity came out that I didn’t first recognize as being a creative. In first grade, my drawing was chosen to be recreated by an airbrush artist on the cafeteria wall and subconsciously think that was the beginning of my artistic path that would become my future at some point. It was something that i had to follow this feeling of being an artist and that eventually led to my path of going to art school. During this time after graduation , i let logic get the better of me, including pressure from others, that the arts were a waste of time and they wouldn’t pay the bills. The arts always seemed to come natural to me, but i always questioned what that meant and what i could do with it in my future self. For the longest time, i let those thoughts of logic prevent me from pursuing my true passion and kept myself imprisoned with a false notion. Thankfully, as the years have gone on, I have come to realize those ideas and logic were not what i should have listened too, but to follow the natural urge to be a creative and dig deeper into the arts and myself. This has opened up so many opportunities and new supportive people that are helping to keep the excitement and energy alive in the art i am now making.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Allison Severson, the lively and talented owner and operator of Creative Alley LLC, a painting business that takes creativity to new heights. From basic one-color painting to intricate faux finishing and awe-inspiring murals, Allison’s expertise spans across various mediums and substrates. She fearlessly leaves her artistic mark on interior and exterior walls, ceilings, streets, parking lots, fences, sculptures, canvas, and so much more.
Allison’s journey began with a solid educational foundation. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the esteemed College of Visual Arts in St. Paul. To further enhance her skills, she earned a visual technology certificate from Saint Paul College, cementing her status as a true master of her craft.
Throughout her career, Allison’s talent has shone brightly on numerous occasions. She has been featured as a distinguished artist at various festivals, captivating audiences with her unique creations. Notably, she has been honored with the People’s Choice Award at the Safety Harbor Festival in Florida and the Maple Grove Festival in Minnesota. These accolades are a testament to her exceptional skills and the joy she brings to others through her work.
For Allison, serving others with her visual thinking and skills is immensely rewarding. She finds great satisfaction in starting and completing projects, basking in the praise and gratitude she receives for a job well done. The responsibility that comes with each creative endeavor ignites a fire within her, driving her focus and determination to deliver extraordinary results.
But it’s the grandeur and novelty of large, brightly colored murals, 2D and 3D street paintings that truly ignite Allison’s passion. These expansive and vibrant creations are where she feels most alive, relishing the opportunity to turn a blank space into a visual spectacle. With each stroke of her brush, she infuses energy and wonder into the world around her, creating breathtaking art that leaves onlookers in awe.
Beyond her artistic endeavors, Allison finds solace in spending time with friends and family. She cherishes the connections she has nurtured over the years and values the moments of laughter and companionship they bring. Exploring the great outdoors is another cherished pastime for Allison. As she immerses herself in nature’s embrace, she often finds herself compelled to make a positive impact, whether it’s cleaning up litter or capturing the beauty of flowers, clouds, and the fascinating creatures that cross her path through her photography.
To fuel her thirst for knowledge and inspiration, Allison indulges in the wonders of nature and historical documentaries. She is captivated by the intricacies of the natural world and intrigued by the stories of the past. Through these visual narratives, she broadens her horizons, embracing new perspectives, and infusing them into her artistry.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
There are many books and resources that have meant a lot to me over the years. One of the most important and recent book is “The Body Keeps The Score” by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.. It is an eye opening read about trauma and the ways to heal it. Other books and resources include “The Heroine’s Journey” by Maureen Murdock, a woman’s quest for Wholeness, “Dare to Lead” and “Braving the Wilderness” by Brene Brown, “Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get a Life”, by Larry Winget, “Whistle While You Work; Heeding Your LIfe’s Calling” by Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro, “Buddha’s Brain: the practical neuroscience of happiness, love & Wisdom” by Rick Hanson, PH.D., and finally “The Power of Myth” by Joseph Campbell
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the lessons that i continue to deal with is the negative self talk that goes thru my mind. When i listen to them, i tend to not want to go anywhere, do anything, or be the creative i love being. When i can push them to the side and get them out of my head, things are so much easier to accomplish and i love the creative path I’m pushing for on a daily basis. But it always has been a fight between my inner thoughts and what everyone else sees in what i am doing. Hopefully one day, those thoughts will be nothing but a memory that is locked away and kept at bay so I can pursue my love and passion for the arts without restriction.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.AllisonLSeverson.com
- Instagram: @alleycreations
Image Credits
Allison Severson Shawn McCann