Scrap Girls Chit Chat Newsletter: November 2, 2009

I learned to draw at the age of three by imitating my mother's drawings.

I'm not the only artistic person in my family. My younger brother, Tam, is a prolific designer and artist who has aspirations to make feature-length animations with Pixar.

When I was in the first grade, I would steal pieces of chalk from my classroom and draw on my sister's crib.

In grade school, I won all sorts of awards for art, but I mainly did it for the attention. I was an extremely shy child, but found a way to shine through my art.

Construction paper and stationery were my favorite toys as a child.

I didn't consider a career in the arts until I was a junior in high school. Even then, I still pursued scholarships in environmental engineering and medical technology.

From the ages of 13 to 19, I created handmade greetings cards for my parents for every birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Christmas.

I was 19 years-old when I had my first solo art show. When the gallery owner asked me to help her name her brand new gallery by picking a letter of the alphabet, I said, "J." She immediately replied, "It can't be after someone you have a crush on." So, I changed my answer to "T."

I was admitted into the University of Florida's architecture program, transferred to the graphic design program, but eventually graduated with a BFA in drawing. I never attended a Gators football game.

My first painting homework in college measured 44x30 inches. I was surprised when my classmates brought in a more accurate interpretation of "homework" assignment; a small painting measuring no more than 16x20 inches. My piece was overly ambitious for sure, but it still proudly hangs in my bedroom today.

My favorite artists include Marc Chagall, Adolphe Bouguereau, John Singer Sargent, Edgar Degas, Michelangelo and Beatrix Potter.

I dislike going to art galleries.

My favorite art media are colored pencils, watercolors, and chemical transfers.

When I was hired to design my first web site, I had no web design experience or knowledge. Needless to say, I learned quickly.

It was after watching a Food Network documentary on Warren Brown, creator of the "Cake Love" bakery, that I asked myself the question: "What do I love?" The answer was "paper." Three days later, I discovered digital scrapbooking at Scrap Girls.

My heart's desire is to work with children and art.

Although I am technically an artist, I rarely use that term to describe myself. What I do with my gifts, talents and career is more important than what any of those things actually are.

I recently painted a cloud mural in the nursery of my church, which made me excited about painting and drawing again.

My favorite colors are turquoise blue, pomegranate red and bamboo green.

There's so much more to me than art.