Never Give Up

I met a sweet woman by the name of Dene Rosenthal. One day I called all the print companies in town trying to get some business, and she answered. She was a small design company, working from her house. She and her husband, Sonny, had successfully secured some large accounts and managed them all from their home. She commissioned me to do some illustration work for product packaging. She gave me pointers on running my company and life in general. Dene told me to find my passion in design and focus it, meaning find an industry you like and target it.

            Sadly, Dene passed away. Not only did her clients become my clients, but her way of doing business became mine.  She is one of the people who forever impacted my life.  God really blessed me to have people like Dene and Mr. Conner touch my life. I miss them both very much.  They still inspire me to continue to grow my skill and use my gift to help others!

            I entered school again for Graphic Design. A part of me thought there would not be much more I could learn, but I was so wrong.  I not only learned and enjoyed it, but this time I found friendship in Mr. Wallace and Jeff Morris, rather than intimidation. My maturity and experience made me realize a few things in school.

1. Most of the students in the program will not follow through and become designers after graduation.
2. The challenges the instructors gave are nothing in comparison to the real world.
3. Sometimes what you want to do is not what you should be doing.

The Real World; Be Ready

I was so used to my talent shining, but in the real world there are many stars, each trying to outshine the other. I felt beaten, but I pushed onward. I interned for an ad agency & TV station. After some occupational hurdles, I found myself unemployed and not knowing what to do. My mom suggested I start my own own business.  So, I went for it. It was very slow, but nonetheless it was money. The word got out and business kept coming. Eventually it slowed. I went out searching for work, but was not successful.

            One day I was at my sister’s house, dressed for an interview with my portfolio in my car, just in case (See, you ALWAYS have to be ready). I stopped there to visit, but ironically someone from church called to see if her husband wanted a design job. She told them her husband was not a designer, but her brother was. They asked how soon I could interview. I said “Now!”.  Then, about 4 blocks later, I was there and, about 30 minutes later, I was hired as the new Art Director. (God always has a plan) I enjoyed that job for almost 10 years and continued with my business on the side.

Education

In Jr. High, I started selling my art to classmates. I was also introduced to comic books. I wasn't the best student, but in comics I found new possibilities. I developed a passion for reading and an appreciation for the art. I wanted to become a comic artist.

            I soon decided to go to Kirkman Technical High School. This school offered Commercial Art, which was a bit different from regular Art classes. Instead of drawing, it involved arranging text, images, and conceptualization. I was intrigued by it, because most grade school art classes were very basic and, quite honestly, I found them to be, well,…boring.

            I continued Commercial Art throughout High School (at Howard School of Academics at Technology) and was blessed to meet Lee Arthur Conner. He became a friend and mentor. He saw my gift and encouraged me to explore the Graphic Design field. It wasn't drawing comics, but it captured me!  I decided that would be the field I would chose for college. So, I continued my education in Advertising Art.

            At Chattanooga State Technical Community College, I met Alan Wallace.  At the time, I thought he was brutal and gave students a hard time for no reason, but in reality he was conditioning us all for the brutality of client critiques. Just as I thought I had it all figured out… they hired Jeff Morris, whom Mr. Wallace warned would be harder on us than he ever was... Boy, was he right!

The Beginning

           When I was barely more than a toddler, my grandmother would give me scrap paper and a pen to keep me quiet in church. Little did she know she'd given me the tools to my destiny.  I loved to draw.  It became an escape for me. I could create entire worlds, friends, and anything my imagination could dream.  

            My mother took notice of this gift and nurtured it. She enrolled me in art classes and encouraged me to participate in community events pertaining to art. My father, on the other hand, thought art would “never pay the bills” later in life. He didn't know.  My father believed that physical labor was how you made money to pay the bills. He thought his words were best for me to understand real life. As I got older, the words angered me and soon became my fuel to prove him wrong. You see I believe good and bad things happen for a reason. (e.g. If Joseph Jackson wasn't so hard on the Jackson kids, the world may never have known Michael Jackson's greatness.)