Finding your place in a field that you're passionate about is difficult.  People pretend like there are rules, but there aren't. There is no formula to follow. You have to be genuine. You have to be open. You have to be willing to work and put yourself out there.  You have to be constantly striving for better--not just best.  So I was doing those things (well mostly--openness does not come easily for me); I was being genuine, working, and striving for better. And somehow I made a place for myself in my small community. between all the shows and events people started recognizing my style. it was exciting and terrifying all at the same time.

I was creating these canvases that were intriguing and selling but somehow I was still separated from the creative process.  I was recreating existing designsusing my mixed medium methods. I wanted to be inspired by these things, not just reimagining them.