For as long as I can remember I've been making art. That meant spending hours at the kitchen table, as a child, drawing women in beautiful gowns and dogs wearing clothes eating in fancy restaurants. Because I was encouraged and praised, I 1 that talent.

In college-thinking that I was going to 2  education-I had an amazing professor in an elective drawing class who encouraged me to 3  my major to fine art. As someone easily influenced by praise, I took her advice and got my 4  in painting and drawing. 

Even before I graduated, I had begun showing my art in any 5  that I could. I started out in small coffee shops and farmers markets; it was a perfect way to discover my style and 6  art lovers. 7  , I began showing at galleries and in larger art shows. It was at one of these shows that I met my art publisher, with whom I 8  working for five years. 

The art publishing world was a great way to get my work in front of wide 9  , selling at stores like Target and Home Goods. It was also at this time that a number of my paintings were used in feature films. 10  my art on the big screen was definitely one of the most 11  moments of my career. 

I sometimes wonder what other visual artists do when they're feeling burnt out and 12 with their craft. I feel so lucky to have writing to turn to when the well of my visual creativity runs 13 . Visual arts and writing are different enough that they don't feel like they draw from the same 14 of creative inspiration.

People always tell artists to ‘find their own voice'. While I do agree with this, I don't know if it's something you can just go out and find. To me, it's important that your voice 15 you.