Until 2007, I never painted anything. I don’t think I even used crayons as a child. In my About Section, you can learn about what I did before I used a brush and watercolor paint.

In college I wrote poetry and I wrote a weird mystery novel in graduate school. I still write poetry but I don’t publish it.

While still living in New York, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) which can become debilitating. We were about to move to NC so I took a watercolor class, hoping it would become a hobby.

My first watercolor painting won an honorable mention in NC—it was thrilling, and painting allowed me to forget I had MS. Painting then became my focus, more than my NYU classes for my master’s degree and doctorate.

My first business cards in 2008 said artist, as a title. By 2010, I began to believe I was an artist which meant I focused more on my art. I took more classes and painted all the time.

My MS has truly become the reason I paint. This concentration on painting, along with improved skills and the many sales and awards along the way, have shown to others that I have become an accomplished artist.

In 2024, my MS faltered from time to time. I don’t write blogs, but you can find me on Facebook and Instagram (@leap4artnyc). I often have quotations about my reason for having painted something. You may also find both the good and bad versions of a painting there.

I hope this inspires others to start painting, or those who paint to continue their work.

September 9, 2024