My artistic journey began in childhood surrounded by crayons, pencils, scissors, paper, tape and glue—my happy place where I could create freely! I was fortunate to have a wonderfully creative mother, Grace, who could craft anything and ensured I had all the necessary tools and materials. I fondly remember two books from the '60s, "Junk to Treasure" and "How to Make Something From Nothing," showcasing her ahead-of-her-time thinking. She had a knack for finding beauty in discarded items and shared her love for rust with me. Though she left us too soon at 54, I often reflect on the amazing creations we could have made together. I'm excited to dive into illustrating my upcoming books!