AlyCat's Alley | About Me

Hello! My name is Alyssa, but you might know me as AlyCat. Thanks so much for visiting my page and checking out my work. I'm the creator behind AlyCat’s Alley, where I turn my passion for art into unique commissions. It's always been my dream to start my own business, and I'm excited to grow my brand on social media. As my skills improve, I look forward to expanding the types of commissions I offer and continually raising the quality of my work.I'm currently a full-time student pursuing a degree in graphic design. I’m also diving into courses on 3D modeling and character design. If all goes as planned, I'll be graduating this year! My goal is to get my commissions business up and running before I finish college, setting the stage for my career. Sometimes, school commitments might cause minor delays in completing commissions, but I always provide generous time estimates to account for any potential hiccups.I share my home with five wonderful animals. Among them, Moki, a Maine Coon, is my personal pet and my sweet baby. While she can be a bit moody and sometimes gets in the way, she’s a curious and chill girl who loves to explore the world—and occasionally "assist" me by pawing at my drawing pad. The rest of the household includes two dogs and two other cats, who are all beloved family pets.

When I'm not busy with art or school assignments, you can usually find me playing video games. I enjoy a wide variety, from Minecraft and Ark Survival Ascended to World of Warcraft, Genshin Impact, and Elden Ring. I consider myself a gamer with a decent amount of gaming knowledge. My platform of choice is a PC, where I play games with a keyboard and mouse.

How Did I Get Here?My love for art began at a young age, nurtured by supportive parents who filled our home with drawing pads and "How to Draw" books. As I grew older, my artistic horizons expanded to include digital media, from video editing to graphic design and digital art. Throughout my school years, I pursued courses that aligned with my curiosity, complementing my traditional art classes.However, upon entering high school, doubts crept in. Stories of starving artists and the difficulty of making a living from art dissuaded me. I shelved my artistic ambitions, only drawing occasionally as a pastime, and turned my focus to healthcare.It didn’t take long to realize that healthcare wasn’t the right fit for my personality. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I spent a summer by the beach and found a new interest in marine biology. Enthralled by the ocean and its creatures, I decided to pursue this field in college. Yet, as I delved deeper into marine biology, I discovered that it, too, wasn’t my calling. The field required extensive teamwork and desk work, which didn’t align with my strengths or interests.With most of my college prerequisites completed, I knew it wasn’t too late to change direction. The pandemic made it clear that traditional office jobs aren’t the only path to a secure future. Witnessing mass layoffs and the instability of supposedly stable careers, I reconsidered my artistic dreams.Inspired by the newfound awareness that non-traditional jobs could provide both a living and a fulfilling life, I decided to return to my original passion: creating art. It took time to rebuild my confidence and overcome self-doubt, especially knowing that many younger artists were already succeeding in the field.Now, years later, I am finally following my childhood dream. I am excited to create art that brings joy and helps people express their characters and emotions. The path has been winding, but it has led me back to where my heart truly belongs. I am ready to share my creativity with the world and grow AlyCat’s Alley into the thriving business I always envisioned.