My Story
This section is for the very curious. Everyone has a back story, and I suppose mine is as average as the next Artist. Or maybe it just seems that way to me, since I've lived it.
Short story?
I was born in New York, grew up in Africa and moved back to the States when I was seventeen. I married my best friend Matt, became a military wife, had three daughters, and started my art career. Now that my husband is retired we moved back to his hometown in Missouri and started a farm! I have been freelancing as a Character Designer and Vis Dev Artist over the past eight years and have loved every minute of it!
Long story?
In the 1980's my Texan parents traveled all over for work. My dad was a professional shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles, then got traded to the Rochester Redwings. While we were in New York, I was born and a jump, hop, skip and a way later in 1989 my dad decided to drastically change his career to pursue life as a missionary in Zambia, Africa. It seems like a crazy thing to pack up and travel to a country you've never been to with your wife and 4 daughters, but I am so glad he did!
Africa will always have a special place in my heart. That's where I spent most of my childhood. I hunted lizards with my dogs. Went on countless safaris. Snatched falling charcoal from the sky to draw pictures. Got malaria over 7 times. Met friends that would last a lifetime. Held baby lion cubs in my arms. Almost died from appendicitis in a mud hut hospital. Stayed up all weekend with friends making our own pretend radio station, commercials and music videos. (Yes, those are still around on an old camcorder tape in my basement! lol) Rode standing up in the back of trucks. Designed paper dolls with my sisters. Sang, danced and laughed with the Zambian people. Drank coke and Fanta from glass bottles. Painted Disney characters and Norman Rockwell pieces all over my bedroom walls and when I was 13, I met my best friend Matt who later became the love of my life!
Why talk about where I grew up? I think it makes me who I am today.
Looking back now, I know I drew a TON. When I ran out of paper, I took to the walls, dressers, under my bed, and the top of my bedroom door. I drew animals at first, then Disney VHS covers, Norman Rockwell pieces, movie stars, and eventually tried to draw my own characters. I wasn't sure what I would do as an adult, but I knew I found a passion in art. As a self-taught artist, I never thought I would get a job with a big name animation studio! I knew I wanted to, but had no clue how to go about it. So when Instagram initiated, I started my account @theanimatedlife hoping to at least have a digital space to keep my art and see growth. A few years into posting, and networking, I came across a message from an Art Director from Warner Animation Group! He liked my style and wanted to see if I was available to work on a new animated Scooby Doo movie called "SCOOB!" I JUMPED at the opportunity and ever since they took a chance on me, life hasn't been the same! I appreciate that first gig so much and will never forget the awesome people who hired me on! It snowballed from there, and I got to work on many cool projects over the years!
Whether I continue in the animation industry, or branch out to do something on my own, you can bet I'll never stop pursuing the creative life. The Animated Life!
