My Art Journey

My love for art began in elementary school, when a friend first introduced me to the world of drawing. I noticed how she would fill her notebook with cute, vibrant, and colorful sketches. She made drawing look really fun, and it inspired me to try drawing myself. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with it, and soon I was doodling on anything I could find—homework, scraps of paper, you name it. She was my first source of inspiration, and her playful approach to art sparked a passion in me that has never faded.

Art quickly became my favorite subject in school, and I eagerly sought out every opportunity to take more art classes throughout high school. It was there that I had an exceptional teacher who truly inspired me, encouraging me to push my creative boundaries. This was the first time I really felt challenged, and it was during this period that I saw the most growth and improvement in my work. She was also the one who first introduced me to watercolors.

Back then my love for nature was already starting to show. I decided to do a series of watercolor paintings inspired by the forest. My love for nature probably stems from my childhood, when my family frequently took me to different lakes and hiking trails around Arizona. Also, my grandparents lived in Heber Arizona near a forest, and I have fond memories of my grandmother taking me into the forest to dig up small rocks and crystals.

Old High School art

Done with Watercolor Pencils

After high school, I enrolled at ASU to pursue a degree in art. The university provided me with a wealth of opportunities to explore a wide range of mediums, from oil painting and watercolor to charcoal. I have fond memories of long hours spent in the studio, painting until the sun went down. Although I graduated with a degree in drawing, I didn't immediately have a clear sense of direction. I began teaching beginner drawing to children, and it quickly became a source of unexpected joy. Working with young minds was both eye-opening and inspiring—their creativity and unfiltered expression reminded me of my own early experiences with art and reignited a sense of wonder in me.

Eventually, I was offered a position at an art center to teach adult classes. Initially, I was nervous, but I quickly found my footing thanks to my experience working with children. I relished the challenge of creating my own curriculum and the opportunity to explore more complex concepts that I couldn’t teach to younger students. As I taught more classes, my own painting practice flourished, and I saw noticeable improvements in my work. Once again, I was deeply inspired by the vibrant art community around me. There is something profoundly rewarding about helping adults break free of their inhibitions and rediscover the joy of creating art—something many of them haven’t done since childhood. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see students express their gratitude and rediscover the creative spark that had been dormant for so long.

Today, I teach a variety of art classes at the Mesa Arts Center, Edna Vihel Art Center, and several community centers in Scottsdale. My dream is to spread happiness through my art and inspire others to embrace their own creativity. I hope that art continues to take me as far as it possibly can, opening new doors and bringing people together along the way.