Creative expression & art has always been a part of my life in one facet or another. Whether as a personal chef, a graphic artist designer, or a visual artist, I've always had; as my high school advanced art instructor, Miss Gronkwoski described it, "a unique creative vision". She actually compared my art work to great Expressionism artists like Vincent Van Gogh & Paul Guaguin. At the time I didn't realize the depth of what she was saying about my work, I just knew that when I looked at ordinary things, I saw beyond the ordinary external aspects.

Expressionism is an art style that focuses on capturing inner emotions and psychological aspects of subjects rather than exactly what's seen, while at the same time still creating a connection of familiarity. But even after the praises & excitement from Miss G, my naivety allowed the laughs & taunting of my art exam project final from an extremely talented senior, whose work I admired because he could draw things so perfectly exactly as they were seen, make me feel so hurt and insecure about my project that I was initially so proud of. He made me feel so insecure that I refused to enter the national art contest that Miss G pleaded with me to enter. I even stopped further art studies because of how I felt about my creativity after that senior laughed at my work.

Years later I saw Ms G and she told me that she really wish I hadn't given up , because what she had seen in my work was really rare and special. She also let me know that she had learned of the reason I stopped art studies and told me that that other student later told her how much he loved my work, and that he was glad that I didn't enter that contest, because I probably would've won instead of him. I shared this story, because there's not been to many days that's gone by since those days that I haven't thought about that experience. I've always continued to paint & draw as a hobby,but now I'm diving back into my craft because of the love that I've always had for my creativity. But now with the confidence that I allowed to be thwarted, I'm again excited about my craft. And I'm also excited to share with you opportunities to have your own pieces of some of my unique & meaningful works, as well as some of my custom one of a kind work. And my original works of art are made even more special by the fact that it's all wearable & featured on my exclusive tshirt line, that allows you to "wear how you feel." Dee