When I think back to how I became an artist the first person I think of is my mom. She may not have one ounce of artistic ability in her and cannot even sew on a button, but that did not stop her from instilling a love of the arts in me.

I remember her taking me to local art shows like the Saint James Court Art Show and the Ursuline Art Fair when I was little. Artists knew mom and they would say to her, “I see you have your shadow today.” That was me. I was mom’s shadow on the art show circuit.

As a child I remember mom enrolling me in summer sports camps. She tried, but playing sports was not my thing. Then she started enrolling me in art programs. I was in heaven. I took workshops with The Little Loomhouse and some of these early artworks still hang at the Jeffersontown Library children’s section. I took after school classes and summer camps with the Louisville Visual Arts Association. And eventually mom enrolled me in week long sewing camps at Baer Fabrics.

I cannot imagine what my life would have turned out to be like without these opportunities that have formed the basis of my love of art and fibers.

Thanks mom!