Alyssa lives in beautiful Baraboo, WI with her supportive husband, endlessly energetic son, three kitties, and schools of goldfish.  After many years as a professional baker, she found her way back to her original love: ceramics. Working with earthenware clay and mixing her own food-safe glazes, she sculpts hand-built, and wheel thrown vessels. Alyssa's pieces are all one-of-a-kind or part of a small production series. One that has become beloved and coveted here! 

Alyssa finds inspiration in unruly flower gardens, great meals- especially dessert- and funky finds from antique shops. 

She uses red earthenware clay and majolica glazing techniques to create unique, functional ceramics using hand- building and wheel-throwing techniques. I love exploring quirky forms and colorful surface decoration. Her main influences are folk art, mid-century modern design, and vintage illustrations. Alyssa's goal for each piece is to celebrate human touch and the idiosyncrasies that are evident in a hand- made object.

WOODWALK

Describe your work in 3 words

ALYSSA

playful, colorful, and whimsical

WOODWALK

What do you love about your chosen medium/media?

ALYSSA

I love working in ceramics because the process is pretty magical. Taking a squishy lump and clay and being able to transform it into a permanent ceramic piece never gets old.

WOODWALK

Is there another medium you enjoy exploring?

ALYSSA

I think working with glass looks really interesting. I'm always really drawn to hand blown cups and vases.

WOODWALK

Tell us about the body of work you have at Woodwalk this year.

ALYSSA

I'm always very inspired by folk art. I want all my pieces to have evidence of being made by hand, be that through the soft texture of hand built pieces or the loose, gestural brushwork on wheel thrown works.

WOODWALK

What are some consistent aspects of your creative process? 

ALYSSA

Generally, I work fairly intuitively. I'll start with a general idea of what I want to make but I try to remain open and flexible if the material is suggesting a different direction.

WOODWALK

What does your ideal day in the studio look like?

ALYSSA

I love working in the early mornings before the sun comes up. It is a quiet, peaceful time that I can just focus on my work. And the longer stretches of time in my studio the better...ideas have time to build on each other then.

WOODWALK

If you could go anywhere in the world for a creative residency, where would you go? Why?

 

ALYSSA

I would like to go to England. It seems like most of my favorite ceramic artists live there!

WOODWALK

What inspires or influences you?

ALYSSA

I love all fork art...especially early American and Mexican folk art. I'm really inspired by mid-century modern surface design too.

WOODWALK

How has your work evolved over the years?

ALYSSA

My work has be come more simplified and abstracted. For example, I care less about a flower looking like a real or specific plant but rather more about how well do the brush marks convey movement or how well do they fit on the form of a plate or mug.

WOODWALK

Anything else you'd like to share about your process? Studio? Yourself as an artist?

ALYSSA

I'm grateful to my family for supporting and encouraging my ceramic journey. It can feel like a solo sport at times but there is always a whole network that allows me to keep my hands in clay.