Alyssa brings her digital doodles to life in Web3

The walls of the AllShips Holiday Party, held in December, were covered with a living tapestry consisting of black and white portraits.

Alyssa Stevens, a 25-year-old web3 creator who was able to entertain the crowd with live painting, is a rising star. Her doodle-inspired artworks recall cubist influences in labyrinthine designs, particularly her “the intangible”Like a series of 1/1 pieces “i know nothing” and the newly-minted “i see the world differently now.”

She lists notable names such as Cozomo de’ Medici, Gary VaynerchukHer collector base includes Funghibull and Oveck. Recently featured in ARCHIV3’s magazineAlongside the likes Dave Krugman and Bryan Brinkman, Stevens has been embraced by New York’s digital art community since quitting her corporate job and moving to the city in August upon receiving an artist grant from Station3.

“Before I had ever sold a piece of art, I wrote a list of manifestations that seemed extremely far-fetched,” she tells nft now. “I looked at the list every day until it became my reality.”

Every week, nft now’s Next up unveils a new artist from our curated list of ascendant talents who have been making significant waves throughout Web3. This week, we turn our spotlight on Alyssa Steads.

nft: When did you first get interested in digital art/involved?

Alyssa Stevens: I’ve always loved art – I drew my own comic series as a kid, participated in after-school art intensive programs, and handed in homework assignments covered in doodles. In 2020, I borrowed my friend’s iPad and created my first piece of digital art on Procreate – I quickly became obsessed and got my own iPad. In a time of depression and anxiety, creating digital art became my preferred form of therapy. It felt like talking to a friend who just understood, and allowed me to express my emotions in a way words couldn’t. “Interconnected Planes,” the first collection I minted on the blockchain, reflects this period of healing and reconnecting with my younger self.

What would you say about your art?

Introspective. Abstract. Emotional. Imperfect. Stream-of-consciousness. 

I like that my art has a childlike, messy quality. My goal is not to create art in a certain style, but rather to let my intuitive and emotional self guide the process. My best work often comes from a meditative trance state.

What’s your process like? Where do you find inspiration?

When I create, my goal is to be as open and vulnerable as possible. I want to allow any buried feelings to come out without judgement. It is through creating that I am able to accept and heal my pain in a beautiful manner. I like to create alone at night, while listening to music that I would describe as ethereal or nostalgic. I find that the best inspiration comes from turning my mind off and tapping into the stillness of the present moment, although some artists I love are Picasso, Hilma af Klint, and Miró. 

What are the challenges that new artists face in web3?

I find that one of the biggest challenges for web3 artists is to build a community, and keep them engaged. The decentralized nature web3 places pressure on artists to do more than just create art. Web3 is all about building relationships, trust, engaging with the community constantly, strategizing etc. and having so many things to manage can take away time from creating art. It can be challenging but having complete control over the process is what makes it valuable.

What advice would you give to emerging artists in this field?

This is going to sound so cliche, but hear me out…believe in yourself to a delusional extent. I used to roll my eyes at such generic advice, but I’ve come to the realization that most people in your life are going to tell you to “be more realistic” when you share your dreams. Shut down external opinions and work to shift your belief systems to reflect a version of yourself who has already achieved what you desire. 

Before I sold my first piece of art, i wrote a list that seemed impossible. In a little more than a year, I had finished the list. It included quitting my corporate position to pursue art full time and Gary Vee buying my art. I re-read the list daily until it became a reality.