Painting wasn’t in my scope when I entered into the world as an adult. I have walked down several roads. My only experience with painting was a high school art class, but only a half a year. I spent most of my life in the service industry, then onto floral design for a couple of decades. Enjoying gardening, aquarium fish and cats and dogs. As day to day life went on, I grew restless and unfulfilled. I needed to expand on my creativity. I started to draw cartoons. A coworker painted, it inspired me give painting a try. But I stayed primarily with simple pencil cartoons, some quite tongue-in-cheek, not thinking painting was anything I could ever develop any skill. Major change blew through my life, love and loss, financial hits. New home, new employment, new opportunities. I did some figure modeling at a gallery for art classes. I absorbed the words of teachers, the enthusiasm of the students. Being encouraged by a childhood friend who is a well established artist. I was in awe of her and her work. She gave me a box of paints. Being too shy to take an art class and financially strapped, I started to teach myself to paint. Animated art and various animated series imprinted my aesthetic. Octopi and flowers bloomed from my brush. I stumbled upon a charitable organization, that helps homeless people through the sale of original pieces of donated art, I created dozens of pieces. All selling. I felt I was contributing to society, growing my talent, and building confidence in my work. I continue to donate art yearly to this annual event. It is important to continue to learn who you are, self discovery. A continuing unpublished story. Hold onto what brings you fulfillment, even if you can only lose yourself in it for moments a day. Meeting every day with humor and humility. My work took flight into owls, and began to walk about with chicks and hens. Landing in my familiar world of cats and aquariums, creating pieces with kooky cats and other worldly goldfish. I discovered a fondness for painting pastries combining them with cats, and creating pastry combos with pigs. I receive continued encouragement from my loved ones, I continue creating new concepts and revisiting projects I had long set aside. Communication and compassion. Gratitude and love. I am an accidental painter. I am a grateful painter..