Why I wanted to become an artist 

Thinking about my future livelihood at that stage was daunting, because I didn’t know what all of my options were. At first, I thought about trying to become an architect, since it seemed cool to be able to design buildings. No other professions really came to mind or sounded appealing until I got an assignment in the seventh grade to do a grid drawing.

I had to choose a picture from a magazine and then draw a grid over it. Then, on a larger piece of paper, I had to draw the same grid to demonstrate quadrant-by-quadrant how to “blow up” the picture.

I chose to do a picture of The Little Mermaid, and it turned out really well; it looked just like the original. My drawing and I got a lot of attention, and I loved every single moment of it! I knew then that I wanted to be an artist.

This is that drawing from 35 years ago:

One other reason for choosing to become an artist:  I have always loved beautiful things. I can get lost in a painting for hours, trying to figure out how it was made, enjoying the aesthetics. According to the Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell, “Studies have shown, surroundings that are aesthetically pleasing to us can improve our wellbeing, our behavior, cognitive function, and mood.” I love to surround myself with beauty and will stop what I’m doing when struck by a beautiful scene while out and about. I believe it’s our duty to enjoy these magic moments and  relish the way they make us feel.

I’m glad that I chose an artistic path so early on. It gave me a lot of time to practice and to excel at drawing. Throughout my high school years, I was considered the best artist in the school. My senior year in high school consisted of mostly art classes. After high school, I went to the Cleveland Institute of Art and majored in Illustration. My career path has been web design, which isn’t quite as artsy, but it scratched my creative itch.

For the past 20 years, I’ve been telling myself that I need to spend more time making art. Two years ago, I made the conscious decision to do exactly that. The journey has been very exhilarating, as well as very positive for my overall state of mind. I've been spending about 40-60 hours a month drawing and painting, and I’m laser-focused on making sure my art is seen by others by participating in art fairs and promoting my work online. I’m so grateful for your support!

What’s your fondest memory of artwork or drawing?

Here are some other fun mermaids throughout the years...