Some of my favorite memories from childhood are sitting on my grandmother’s lap as she taught me to sew. She instilled in me early the love and care that you should put into everything you create.

She and my grandfather raised three girls while both running their own small businesses–her a sewing and altercations shop, him a mechanic’s shop. Both shops sat side by side on the first floor while they lived in an apartment on the second floor. 

They were my heroes growing up, and I wanted to be just like my grandmother, and be able to express myself creatively while bringing joy to people.

I also had a passion for animals growing up, often feeding strays (much to my parent’s chagrin). Later, when I went to college for the first time (eventually getting a bachelor degree in Animal Sciences), I worked at the veterinary medicine school’s virology lab, volunteered at both the large and small animal clinics, and did my undergraduate research at the local humane society. 

After a stint in corporate America and earning an MBA from Lindenwood University, I felt the yearning to get back to my roots of creativity. So I went back to school for the third (and fourth) time. I first earned my associates degree in Graphic Design (Lewis and Clark Community College) and then a bachelors of Graphic Design (Wilmington University). There, I was able to sharpen my technical skills as well as express myself creatively. With my background in graphic design, I was drawn to using technology as a medium.

Pair that with a passion for animals, and I started drawing portraits of pets on my iPad, starting with drawing my own pets, and then branching out into other people’s fur babies. And it just felt right–like I had finally found my niche by creating brightly colored whimsical pet portraits with the same love and care my grandmother instilled in me years ago.