Born near the foot of Mount Hood in Oregon, I was introduced to the beauty of nature and the love of animals, at a very young age. To this day I am in awe of what our God has given us. A gift filled with magic and majesty for us to enjoy each and every moment.

When faced with challenges I’ve learned to set my sights and attention to things of beauty and peace. At first this skill was difficult to achieve; and now it is usually easy for me. Imagine a day filled with disappointment and instead of letting those feelings overwhelm you, look up to the sky. Or, look into the eyes of a child or an animal to see clearly unconditional love.

Art has been an important part of my life from the beginning. As a young child I would escape to my grandmother’s garden and lye on the grass, where I would examine the smallest petal or blade of grass. I was amazed at the patterns in leaves and the colors of small stones. Colors and light vibrated in the pink and lavender sunsets; or the bright red/orange sky in the morning, before a storm.

Animals mystified me. Looking into their eyes, I could understand what they were feeling. My communication with animals was far easier than with humans. I began sketching horses and trees, my two favorite subjects. When I was thirteen, it was discovered I was extremely near-sighted. When I was driving home with my new glasses, I said, “Wow! You can even see the leaves on the trees.” This opened entire new worlds for me. I remember painting murals along the walls of the basement playroom, in our home. I wallpapered my bedroom with bright red, black and grey geometric patterns. Again, appreciating vibrant colors and seeing the light and shadows dance along the walls as the sun would change its position in the sky.

In school, art classes were my favorite subjects. Then, in my early teens, I found it necessary to leave my home and to concentrate on survival. My life has been filled with challenges and an abundance of great adventures. As I traveled around the world I saw and appreciated the art of many cultures.

Currently I am a student at San Diego State University. My major is art with an emphasis in multimedia. I'm proud to say, my logo for the EOP program was selected first, above all other student entries, in 2008.

With each day, art becomes a more important part of my life. Not only do I appreciate it . . . I feel obsessed to create it. Whether painting in oils or pastels, drawing, creating designs on the computer, or taking photographs; each project is a new and exciting experience.