Growing up my mother often told me of a preschool Sunday school teacher that convinced her I would be an artist one day. I carried that with me like an invisible badge until I was able to take real art classes from a real artist in high school. My teacher was (and still is) a free soul that brings funk and encourages individuality with every stroke of her brush. Dare I say I blossomed during those years and ended my senior year with the title of 'Most Artistic'... I have the yearbook to prove it. 

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I decided the only way I would ever be happy working for a living is to create or design something. I never thought I was smart enough for college, but I attended night school full time while working full time until I became certified in computer aided drafting. Turns out I am smart enough, I just didn't apply myself in high school. Lesson learned. I began designing office/industrial steel cabinets that later led me to convincing a roof truss/wall panel plant that I knew enough about their product, which I did not, to become a designer because it was way more money. I worked hard to learn my profession with mainly men coworkers, which was at times a challenge. Throw in marrying a crazy fun country boy that led to becoming pregnant with our first of two children. Honestly, the younger me always swore to have a career. How was younger me to know what being a mother would do to me. My oldest is soon to be 24. I am still pretty consumed with being their mother. It is me being my best self.

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We decided that I would stay home with them. Here is when I put personal dreams on hold and did whatever I could to be with my kids. I became a preschool teacher. It allowed me the same school schedule they had and I was with them every morning/afternoon. In 2013 things started to change when I suddenly noticed my children didn't need me like that used to. After a beautiful family vacation in the mountains I felt the tug of inspiration again. So I bought a canvas, brushes and paints. It ignited the flame of creativity that still burned on the page of that 1992 yearbook.

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I learned to juggle life and creating because I found something I put down years before and forgot where I put it. It's not news to me that everyone might not love my style of art. When I stopped trying to please others I actually started selling a few pieces. So, I will continue on my artsy journey with the words of Mrs. Pende ringing in my ears:

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You be you and bow to no one.

Art is life; life is art.

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Thank you for being here with me.

Much love.

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