Peers and family members championed me since I can remember as one of those creative kids with some talent. My artistic endeavors were furthered by my dad who taught me stained glass, glass etching, screen printing, and b&w photography. It all came to me so naturally.

As a four year old without siblings, I worked tirelessly at my pint-sized craft table. Putting aside my dolls, I used every spare moment for making art- crafting decorations out of construction paper, markers, pipe cleaners, and glitter of every hue. In our house, nothing was hung on the refrigerator, but on the front door where passers-by could admire my latest masterpiece. My designs were officially on display in my first “gallery.”

The work of Norman Rockwell was the only art I knew aside from my own creations, and I believed that all painting and drawing must look photo-realistic to be deemed worthy of the title, "art". Later, the study of modern art made me realize how beautiful loose brush strokes and mark-making could be; it was a fine example in setting me free with my artwork.

In college, I declared biology with a pre-med focus as my major because it was imperative to have a "real job" in the real world. As a break from organic chemistry and vertebrate zoology, I joined the art majors on a museum trip to New York. I saw an incredible exhibition where every piece mirrored my scientific studies but on these walls, were transformed into something so beautiful. I knew that these raw, expressive works conveyed what I was trying to communicate in my own artistic dabbles. As a penniless student, I distinctly remember skipping lunch that day so I could buy the exhibition catalog in the museum bookstore. My instincts revealed that I had no real desire to study medicine, and changed my major to fine art as soon as I returned to campus.

Chemistry and biology soon gave way to drawing and color theory. By incorporating science into my painting, I remain connected to my artistic roots and medical studies from those days. My art can be described as the confluence of my science background and the inspiration of my urban environment, particularly colorful and billowy graffiti murals.