First, my father was an artist who encouraged me.  My first career was in the mental health field and I found that art can also be used as a therapeutic tool for those who are hurting.  Combining what I learned from my father, the peace I receive when creating a painting, and watching others absorb the beauty from an artwork has allowed me to continue to grow in my passion for painting.  After returning to academia to extend my artist skills, I learned the fundamentals of professional art and I found that those fundamentals can be applied to any idea to create a masterpiece.  This gives me a sense of freedom that I have not experienced in my other profession.  Freedom, hope, encouragement, beauty.  These are the values that I strive to bring alive in my work. If I can achieve this, seeds will be planted into the viewers' lives and our heavenly father will take care of  the rest.