Alyssa Ravenwood
What is your favorite art medium to work in, and why?
Sculpting in water based clay, especially WED clay by Laguna clay company, is my favorite. Water based clay is such a pleasure to sculpt. When it is fresh out of the bag it is soft and pliable. I like to get the large foundation shapes sculpted at this stage. Then I let the sculpture air dry a bit. At this point I can carve in sharp and intricate details. It's almost like carving wood or stone but, unlike stone, you can always add more material when needed. Once you have created your sculpture in clay there are many different kinds of final work you can make from there. You can make a negative silicone mold of your clay sculpture and then cast the sculpture in resin, cold-cast bronze, cement. You can use a positive plaster cast as a base to make a vacuum-formed piece or you can sculpt leather on it. You can use the clay original to make a negative plaster mold and then cast neoprene or latex into it. If you used pottery clay you can fire the clay sculpture directly. There are so many options with clay.
When did you first figure out that art was important to you?
Always. Both of my parents are sculptors. I grew up surrounded by art and handmade things. As a teenager I spent hours looking at the art books at the school library. I feel blessed that I grew up with the belief that art is an important part of a good life. Making art and appreciating art. My life would have been so colorless and disheartening without art.
Who is your art mentor?
I've had many great teachers in my life that have had an impact on me. Thurston James wrote a book called The Prop Master's Mask-Making Handbook. That book was my only real mask making teacher in the beginning. Books have always been important to my development.
Finish this sentence: My art is my...
My art is my source of joy, pride, spirituality, fulfillment, friendships, and income.
What advice would you offer someone just beginning their exploration of their own artistic self?
Make work that pleases you. Don't worry about what you think other people will want or accept. Make the work because you need to see this creation in the world. As a mask maker a pivotal stage happened for me when I was directing a commedia play, Scapin. As a designer I always had to please the director. This time I was the director, so I had full freedom. I wanted to combine the styles of traditional commedia masks with German Expressionism. Two of my favorite art forms that don't seem to be related. The result was very successful. I came into my own style through this experiment. I also advise you to work as much as possible for as long as possible. Chuck Jones' teacher said, "you have 10,000 bad drawings in you so get them out of the way as soon as possible." Keep working no mater what. Be committed to your art for life and you will have an interesting and fulfilling career.
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