I breathed in deeply and closed my eyes. I stayed still, standing in the sunlight for a moment before closing the door behind me. I was on a mission. I decided last year to broaden my painting horizon. On this particular day, I decided to grab inspiration from outside to paint. And I knew just where to start! Nana’s yellow roses! I collected a couple blooming, fragrant roses along with some chamomile from my own garden and took them inside to set up and paint. I love drawing and painting! I always have. My comfort zone mostly consisted of doing portraits with graphite pencil and any paper I could find around the house until I eventually branched out to watercolor and colored pencil. Within the last couple years I started learning how to use oil paints and have discovered an obsession with landscapes. I’m trying to step into the world of plein art painting and am so excited to finally have a sturdy isle that I can take outside! My pictures below are as follows: 1) The beginning stage of one of my first landscape type paintings I’m working on, oil on canvas. 2) Nana’s yellow roses, oil on panel (also unfinished). 3) One of my nieces, watercolor.

"Add some color," she said. "It will bring it to life!" That's why I was sitting there, trying to figure out how to get water and a few dry colors to become a painting of a flower. But I was used to doing black and white graphite drawings. I was comfortable with pencil and paper. But my mom had begged me for years to try adding color to my pictures, convinced that it would bring them completely to life! So there I was, begrudgingly giving it a try and stepping out of my comfort zone. Little did I know, ten years down the road, watercolor would be one of my favorite mediums to use. Now I LOVE watercolor and its ability to be flexible and dreamy but also deep and full of emotion. It really does add life to my artwork. Since watercolor is versatile, I can paint portraits, still lives and landscapes. It can be detailed or simple and still carry out the message of the picture. Since I've started selling my artwork, I've found that my customers love it as well! Watercolor flowers and portraits are some of the most popular paintings that people ask for. Continuing forward, I want to provide for myself by selling artwork. That way I can do what I love while providing others with meaningful, personal and unique artwork for their homes. I'll continue doing landscapes, faith-based art, still lives, and portraits of individuals and families. So far, I have seen a variety of emotional responses when people receive their artwork. I am honored every time someone is touched to the point of tears by a painting or drawing. Seeing how my art affects other people has inspired me to continue to improve my skills and style to capture those feelings that speak to the viewer. I want to expand my art to include limited edition prints as well as originals and commissioned pieces. I want to be capable of doing my own business finances, marketing, packaging and selling but to reach a point where I can hire an assistant to help me with these aspects. With a job like this where I work from home/studio, I will be able to arrange my schedule to be flexible for me to reach some of my other goals and dreams. I would be able to do humanitarian projects, occasional musical performances, help others and eventually be a stay-at-home mom while still contributing to family income through the art business on the side. Some day I hope to have paintings in galleries, museums and even in temples. Painting sample 1) In this painting I was trying to capture the look in the eyes of the actor from The Chosen. Painting sample 2) Is of my friend's beautiful baby. She was born with only her pinky finger and thumb on her left hand. I was very inspired by this and wanted to put more art out there that shows the beauty and reality of individuals with disabilities.

"Add some color," she said. "It will bring it to life!" That's why I was sitting there, trying to figure out how to get water and a few dry colors to become a painting of a flower. But I was used to doing black and white graphite drawings. I was comfortable with pencil and paper. But my mom had begged me for years to try adding color to my pictures, convinced that it would bring them completely to life! So there I was, begrudgingly giving it a try and stepping out of my comfort zone. Little did I know, ten years down the road, watercolor would be one of my favorite mediums to use. Now I LOVE watercolor and its ability to be flexible and dreamy but also deep and full of emotion. It really does add life to my artwork. Since watercolor is versatile, I can paint portraits, still lives and landscapes. It can be detailed or simple and still carry out the message of the picture. Since I've started selling my artwork, I've found that my customers love it as well! Watercolor flowers and portraits are some of the most popular paintings that people ask for. Continuing forward, I want to provide for myself by selling artwork. That way I can do what I love while providing others with meaningful, personal and unique artwork for their homes. I'll continue doing landscapes, faith-based art, still lives, and portraits of individuals and families. So far, I have seen a variety of emotional responses when people receive their artwork. I am honored every time someone is touched to the point of tears by a painting or drawing. Seeing how my art affects other people has inspired me to continue to improve my skills and style to capture those feelings that speak to the viewer. I want to expand my art to include limited edition prints as well as originals and commissioned pieces. I want to be capable of doing my own business finances, marketing, packaging and selling but to reach a point where I can hire an assistant to help me with these aspects. With a job like this where I work from home/studio, I will be able to arrange my schedule to be flexible for me to reach some of my other goals and dreams. I would be able to do humanitarian projects, occasional musical performances, help others and eventually be a stay-at-home mom while still contributing to family income through the art business on the side. Some day I hope to have paintings in galleries, museums and even in temples. Painting sample 1) In this painting I was trying to capture the look in the eyes of the actor from The Chosen. Painting sample 2) Is of my friend's beautiful baby. She was born with only her pinky and thumb on her left hand. I was very inspired by this and wanted to put more art out there that shows the beauty and reality of individuals with disabilities.