Check Out Alyssa Deck’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Deck.

Hi Alyssa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I am originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana and I have been in Tennessee for over 2 years now. When I was a little kid, I made art with my mom and grandma all the time and I just never stopped. I got really passionate about oil painting in high school and at the same time, I was getting my Cosmetology license in Vocational School. After graduating high school, I went on to get a degree in Pre-Art Therapy with a focus on Painting. Throughout college, I was supporting myself by working as a hairdresser specializing in color. As you can imagine, the color theory was (and is) a huge part of my life between hair color and painting. After college, I continued doing hair and also landed an amazing position as an Assistant to one of my personal artistic heroes, Sayaka Ganz. She makes these incredible animal sculptures out of reused metal and plastic.

She has shown her art all over the world and was an immensely positive influence in my life and art. I mainly worked with her on metal projects, but every once in a while, I got to take a heat gun to a plastic bowl and make jellyfish tentacles. I really loved working for Sayaka, but I have always wanted to move to Nashville because I love music and have lots of family in Tennessee. Eventually, I made my way South and now I am growing my art business in Nashville!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t say the road has been completely smooth, but what is life without a few bumps along the way? A major struggle for me was that I didn’t have much familial support in any form when I decided to pursue art. My dad actually told me I wasn’t “allowed” to go to art school, but I was 19 and paying for it myself so I obviously just did it anyway!

I have always struggled with a negative shadow in the back of my mind telling me my dreams are crazy or unattainable. It has taken a lot of work, but I’ve found ways to retrain those thinking patterns and adopt the belief that I can do whatever I set my mind to!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Painting is my area of specialization. I love working on a large scale and creating murals. I am kind of a jack of all trades though and I definitely pride myself in being versatile in many art forms.

From metal sculptures to digital art- I love learning new things and stretching my knowledge. Painting is always what I seem to come back to at the end of the day. I have such a deep love for pushing pigment on canvas and for creating murals!

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Murals, album art, and illustration commissions are the best ways to support and collaborate with me! If you know anyone who would love a mural in/on their home or business please reach out.

I am also working with a few local bands right now to create EP art and paint drum heads with logos and designs. I would love to keep strengthening these forms of artistic collaboration!

Finally, I have a show coming up in June at the gallery in Turnip Green Creative Reuse and I would love to meet new folks there. Give me a follow on Instagram for more details!

Contact Info:

• Website: alyssadeck.com
• Instagram: @cloud_scrubber

Image Credits
Ruth Yaro