Meet Alyssa Hill | Art Director for Television and ceramicists

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alyssa Hill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alyssa, what role has risk played in your life or career?
In my life I have taken risks at every step. Leaving for film school in North Carolina was a big risk. UNCSA was not a well-known school at the time. In fact, it was not even part of the university system at the time. It was an art conservatory. After graduating in 2007, I made the choice to move to L.A. and try to make a career in the art department. I was extremely fortunate to know people working in television. Then the 2008 writers’ strike happened. It was a difficult period of my life. I was not established at the time and I had just joined IATSE. It had escalated to a point where I almost moved back in with my parents, but at the very last minute I was hired on a network show. For the past 17 years I have not had more than a few weeks in between shows. That was until this current strike. I have experience on nearly 40 shows, but few shows have been greenlit due to the strike, so I have not worked in a very long time. During this period of time I have found a new medium of artistic expression in ceramics. It’s taking a new risk. There are new skills to learn and new questions to answer. How do I build a business and following in ceramics? What do I want to say and create in ceramics? Can I maintain this new endeavor when television production picks back up? These are my day-to-day questions. And as soon as I find some answers, new questions arise. But if I never try, then I’ll never know if I’m able to succeed, and I can’t live without that answer.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
On one of my shows, I walked a set with the production designer and he let out a heavy sigh. When I asked what was wrong he said it wasn’t what he was expecting. Always the perfectionist, I quickly pulled out my notebook and asked what I needed to do. He laughed and said, “no one will know. They’ll come to set tomorrow, tell me it’s amazing and they love it. They’ll film it and no one will know.” This advice has really stuck with me over the years. The imperfections I see in my work, whether it’s in my sets or my ceramics, they are my own self doubts. I need to let go and embrace what other peoples’ opinions are. Good or bad.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My best friend lives in South Carolina and I hope she comes to visit soon! I’d love to take her to the beach. My favorite is Leo Carrillo. The tide pools are amazing. I’d take her for a day downtown to the museums, brunch at Bottega Louie and afternoon tea at the Biltmore. We’d take a trip to the gardens. Check out the Japanese, Chinese, and Rose Gardens at Huntington. If the time of year is right we’d go to Carved or Enchanted night shows at Descanso. Lastly, Disneyland. As an artist, I love the amount of detail and creativity they have put into all the lands. Also, I am a huge Star Wars fan and flying to a far off planet is a form of escape.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First the credit would go to my parents. Growing up with an artist for a mother and an engineer for a father exposed me to a wide range of creativity. They both supported me whether it was in building sets or creating art. Second would be my husband and daughter. They love me and have them as part of my life has been everything to me. No matter how many successes or failures I have, I know they are there for me at the end of the day with a warm hug, laughter, and love.

Website: https://www.alyssahillart.com/

Instagram: @alyssaartla @hillcloudceramics

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-hill-art/

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2050320/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk