How Running and Art Came Into My Life

I must have been 12 or 13 when I learned that life sometimes has a funny way of redirecting you. I was a busy kid and, like now, I loved running, biking, and being outdoors!

The thing was, I was growing so fast that I developed Osgood-Schlatter disease, a temporary knee condition that can affect growing adolescents. It causes pain and swelling just below the kneecap, where the tendon attaches to the shinbone, and it often happens to kids who are active and play sports during a growth spurt. I’ve literally been the same person, physically, since I was 12 years old.

So I had to do what the doctor ordered: take a break from all physical activity, which meant no running and no riding my bike—two things I absolutely loved. Suddenly, I was supposed to sit down and do basically nothing for months.

I hated it.

Although, in hindsight, there was one small benefit. Whenever my mother wanted to take us shopping for what felt like the millionth time that week, I could remind her that my knee hurt and stay home. And if I did have to go, I could sit off to the side while she shopped.

But my parents had another idea. They bought me a ton of art books, drawing pads, and colored pencils. At first, I wasn’t thrilled about sitting around and creating stick figures, but the more I practiced, the better I got!

My dad was this “secret” artist and a really good one at that. His day-to-day job was electrical engineering, but he could draw really well! I found some of his artwork in his man cave one day, along with track trophies. So, it’s true that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! Now, my mother was and still is an excellent seamstress who can sew anything from clothing to curtains, blankets, and seat covers. She’s brilliant when it comes to sewing.

I wasn’t the best artist, but I loved looking at a blank page and creating something no one has ever seen before. Later, I learned how to paint, and that started to take up most of my time.

I painted on anything I could get my hands on. I painted on T-shirts, sweatshirts, and small canvases for my family and friends. My parents found local markets throughout St. Louis where I could sell my work. That’s where I learned to sell, meet people from all walks of life, and find my footing as a local artist.

When I got to high school, I was lucky enough to have an incredible art teacher. She taught us everything from pencil drawing and painting to printmaking, tie-dye, and ceramics. I don't remember her name, but what I do remember is how much she cared about art—and how much I admired her.

The other kids made fun of her all the time. I thought she was brilliant. She encouraged me to paint and create banners for the football and cheer team. The kids loved it! She sparked something in me that was already growing, and my love of art became even stronger.

Then came college.

I went to the University of Missouri on a Track and Field scholarship. Running had found its way back into my life, and it became another huge part of who I was. But I still wanted to create.

The university didn't have much of a design program, so I met with my counselors and figured out how to build my own path. I created a degree in Environmental Sciences while taking apparel design courses at Stephens College down the road and the credits from those design courses transferred into my degree.

I designed clothing, illustrated fashion, won awards, and created amazing patterns and clothing. I later figured out how to earn extra bucks by painting on T-shirts, pants, and shoes for the other students right before the Christmas holiday!

Then life happened.

I got married. I had kids. Responsibilities grew. Time became precious, and somewhere along the way, creating took a back seat. Yes, I worked and created for some amazing companies; I eventually had my own clothing line, but my daughter’s future felt more important. 

That's the thing about time. It moves so fast, and you can forget who you are and what you’re capable of.

Now, I'm ready to take some of that time back. The desire to create, design, paint, and draw never really disappeared. It was just waiting.

And now? It's back.

I want to create things that make people stop and say, WOW.

The Black Girl Art Show will be my first art show in what feels like a hundred years. I have absolutely no idea how it'll turn out. But I'm going. I'm taking the first step toward putting myself back out there after all these years. For me, that's bigger than selling artwork. It’s a freedom I didn’t have for nearly 25 years. This is me reclaiming a part of myself that I had tucked away for a very long time.

Whether people come to my booth or not, I'm okay. Whether I sell one piece or none, I'm okay. Because this time, I'm creating because I want to, and I've learned that when you're doing something that makes you happy, everyone else's opinions, approval, and support matter a little less.