It all started with a pen

I started drawing with black pen as a teenager…mostly on myself. I’d cover my hands and arms in intricate, henna-inspired flowers and patterns with a black gel pen, which, it turns out, glides remarkably well on skin and was probably not what the manufacturer had in mind.

Soon, I was drawing on friends. As adults began to take notice, I was repeatedly told to stop drawing on skin. So my designs took to paper. I learned about Zentangle, a structured, intuitive form of art used as a meditative practice.

I started slowly experimenting with my own style, developing a deep love for expressive art. I spent several years focused on mixed media, indulging in textures, layers, colors, and making a beautiful mess. I threw pay checks into a growing collection of art supplies, exploring new mediums and sampling the widest variety of styles I could expose myself to. In 2018, my background in early childhood education led me to my first job teaching children’s art classes at a community studio. I taught the fundamentals of studio art and eventually launched my first Doodle Art class. The black pen was back, full circle.

I’ve always found drawing a comforting form of meditation. As a chronically overstimulated individual, I’d found a way to regulate my senses and regain a sense of control. I’d found a way to express myself as quietly or loudly as I saw fit. I also just really, really love it. I suppose that’s where passion is born.