We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alyssa Sinnen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alyssa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I love being an artist and I truly believe it is my calling in life. I cannot imagine not picking up a pencil and never creating a piece of art again. It has been a constant and a comfort throughout my whole life. However, I do have a regular job! I’ve been fortunate to have struck a great balance between my full-time job and my creative endeavors. My full-time job allows me the opportunity to get out of the house, socialize with others, use my analytical skill-set, and, of course, pay the bills. It gives me the flexibility and stability I need in order to pursue my passion.

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?

My name is Alyssa, and I am an illustrator with a penchant for all things bright, cheerful, and whimsical. As much of a cliche as it is, I have loved drawing from the moment I could hold a pencil in one hand and a piece of paper in the other.

As a child, my mom took my brother and me to the library on a weekly basis, and from there, my love of reading blossomed. I would check out as many books as I could and carefully examine all of them at home. Although I enjoyed reading the tales the authors offered, the accompanying illustrations captivated me most and told me a story the words couldn’t. I found it magical how artists could convey simple sentences and give life to the arrangements of words through the artwork. I knew then that I wanted to become an illustrator.

I attended Minnesota State University Moorhead, where I received by BFA in Illustration and a minor in Writing. Since then, I have been working towards my dream of becoming a published children’s book writer and illustrator. I am represented by Natalie Lakosil of Looking Glass Literary Agency.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Book and reading were and still are, a foundation of my childhood. They opened up new worlds, sparked curiosity, fueled imagination, and evoked awe. Books nurtured me. I thought, if an author and illustrator had the power to do that for me, perhaps I too could do that for the children of today. Even if it is only one child that I can impact, that is enough for me.

Beyond promoting literacy and a love of reading, my goal with my artwork is to emit joy from the viewer. I want people to look at any of my illustrations and recall their childlike sense of wonder; to delight in whimsy and finding the extraordinary in the every day.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is to experience delight and becoming completely lost in the creative process. As I mentioned how I want to emit joy in my work, I feel it’s just as important for the joy I feel from the creative process to come forth.I love to “play” when I create; splattering watercolor, scribbling colored pencil, smearing gouache, you name it.

I think it serves as an important lesson and reminder just how vital it is to dedicate time towards play. Having zero expectations for the end-result allows me to let go of any hangups I may normally have – you know, those nagging thoughts of “Will this be any good? Will anyone like this? What if it turns out all wrong?” So, I am always thrilled when an illustration or art piece turns out, but it makes me even happier when the process entirely immerses me.

This is all to say, I try to have this same mindset in both my art and other aspects of my life. Allow time for play. Allow happy mistakes to occur. Allow yourself to be free of inhibition.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alyssasinnen.com
• Instagram: @alyssasinnen
• Other: Substack: https://alyssasinnen.substack.com/

Image Credits
AnnDee Lee Photography Alyssa Sinnen