Alissa Hartmann was born and raised in the mountains of Colorado. She grew up doing various outdoor sports such as skiing and hiking. This upbringing instilled a deep appreciation for landscapes at an early age. She enjoyed creating art as soon as she was old enough to hold a pencil. Alissa attended the University of Northern Colorado and Colorado State University majoring in Fine Arts. In 1998 she moved to Italy to study art more intensely in the Tuscan countryside. After her study abroad, she move to Saratosa , FL in 1999, to attend the Ringling College of Art and Design where she received her Bachelorʻs of Fine Arts degree, with honors in 2002. After the Florida years, Alissa move to Jackson Hole Wyoming where she spent many years painting landscapes while also designing signs, painting faux finishes and murals. The Wyoming winters are long and cold so Alissa currrently lives in Kauai where the weather permits her to paint plein air all year long. Her inspiration comes from natural outdoor settings.