
Yes, that's me at age seven winning my
first art contest. What a rush! It seems so long ago (it was). See the judges behind me? I'm surprised
they had colored film when this picture was taken.
When I was ten I won third place in an
art contest held by the Florida Department of Transportation. That was the Big Time for me! I was so excited and driven to continue to draw, sketch and paint.
Then in high school, I decided I would go to college to study Fashion Design since I liked art and I liked clothes - logical. I needed a career where I could be creative and Mount Mary College in Milwaukee was a good school.
My mom did a great job getting me the
basics for school but my roommate Renee and I wanted to decorate. Because money
was tight I would draw pictures from a fashion newspaper called Women's Wear
Daily. We could tape these to our wall; we weren't allowed to use nails. I
loved drawing the body and drapes of fabric on clothes.
My parents and friends
always encouraged my passion for art but I felt I should be doing something
more "important" and didn't pursue it professionally. Recently, after
running myself raged trying create an entrepreneurial career of inventing
things I had an Aha! moment and realized I'm happiest doing my art. It's what I
love and I've finally learned what living authentically means. That is what's most "important".