We’re looking forward to introducing you to Alyssa Smentek . Check out our conversation below.
Alyssa, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I am wandering a path right now. For sure. I am wandering a path, with optimism and knowing now more than ever what I believe in. Part of what I believe in is that… every bit of life is an expression, and those expressions make up reality. The path is beautiful, it’s fulfilling, and it is showing itself more and more every day. Courage, knowledge, intention, and renewal is needed on this path. I am giving myself the time to wander- not wayward, but inquisitive along the way. Appreciative of what is revealed along the way.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, again! My name is Alyssa Smentek. I am an independent artist. My primary focus is poetry. My main goals right now consist of writing, editing, and publishing a poetry collection I’ve worked on over the course of the year, and printing and assembling art books.
I am an abstract artist, primarily. I write songs, dabble in photo and video, and have a strong love for painting on any canvas I get my hands on, scraps especially. The creative process is what I truly love the most. There are only possibilities. I love, also, viewing art and collaboration.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My teachers saw me clearly before I could see myself. Especially my art and writing teachers. In elementary school, when you’re a kid, you don’t know that the teacher will compliment all the students. So, when I made a painting of my mother and I, which is one of my vivid early memories, and got told that I had a talent- it filled me with joy, pride, and even at that age, “maybe this is what I like doing.” And it was. I like to think I have carried the abstract style little me was painting in that classroom, into my big age of 29 years old, and that same small encouragement is still with me too. It’s nice to know people enjoy my work. It’s nice to know kindness to a child carries for a long time. It’s also nice to know I enjoy what I’m doing, first and foremost.
In later experiences in school, I had a few art/ writing teachers who were encouraging me to “lock in” and stop goofing off, to realize I really did and could have potential, and apply myself to opportunities. These teachers will always be remembered, they were an important guidance.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Love and faith are still abundant in the worst times of my life.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say what matters to me is kindness, foundation, a safe presence, and a little bit of laughter. Kindness is a guide. Foundation is what I’m aiming to build and strengthen. A safe presence is what I try to provide. Lastly, laughter is a way we all relate. We all need it.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If immortality were real, what would you build?
I would build interactive, immersive art spaces. I would live in a cool castle somewhere.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: lavender_slush0
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