We recently connected with Alyssa Wheeler and have shared our conversation below.

Alyssa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Thankfully, I grew up with a sister who enjoyed art as much as I did; we taught ourselves the craft by simply doing what we loved from a young age – drawing what inspired us. Over time I began to take on more and more challenging pieces, improving my skills by creating pieces that excited me. To improve my craft, I have learned to love learning. Every time I pick up a pencil, I continue in my development as an artist.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Once I began college, I found myself drawing less frequently as my studies demanded the majority of my time. I earned a degree in business administration from Penn State with no intention of starting my own business or turning my hobby of drawing into a profession. However, during COVID, I began to draw again in my time at home.

Amongst the first artworks I completed were landmarks from the Penn State college campus. I partnered with The Corner Room, a beloved State College restaurant, and began selling my artwork to support their efforts to feed the State College community through the pandemic. The response from the community was overwhelming and my art business began!

I went on to pursue a licensing partnership with Penn State University and now proudly offer officially licensed collegiate artwork.

As I continue my artistic journey, I have found joy in continued partnerships with nonprofits to utilize artwork to support their missions.

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

For me, the feeling of completing an artwork that you’ve spent hundreds of hours on, and knowing that you gave 100% is extremely rewarding. Finishing a piece and knowing that you only gave 90% is devastating.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I continually strive to create artworks that are inspired by a subject I am passionate about. I find that when I am excited about a piece, I am able to fine tune my skills and push myself to learn new techniques. It is my hope that these artworks may be used to bring joy to many others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alyssamaestudios.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssamaestudios/