{"id":6,"date":"2013-02-16T20:07:15","date_gmt":"2013-02-16T20:07:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/?page_id=6"},"modified":"2022-01-19T05:46:05","modified_gmt":"2022-01-19T05:46:05","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"6\" class=\"elementor elementor-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-77fd314 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"77fd314\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e306c5b\" data-id=\"e306c5b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-58f741a1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"58f741a1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5c138a6a\" data-id=\"5c138a6a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68a45a8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"68a45a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 26-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">About MB<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24088ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"24088ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 26-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/201903_MD_006-768x512.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-719\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/201903_MD_006-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/201903_MD_006-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/201903_MD_006.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c137858 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c137858\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 26-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>photo by @marivicdivina<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-759807ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"759807ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:heading {\"level\":1,\"align\":\"center\"} --><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); background-color: var(--nv-site-bg); font-size: var(--bodyFontSize); letter-spacing: var(--bodyLetterSpacing); text-transform: var(--bodyTextTransform);\">As a little girl, I was encouraged to express myself through art.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} --><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">After a successful 25 year career as an Interior Designer, my journey in life took an unexpected turn.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} --><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">In April 2006, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, while in treatment I re-discovered the healing power of art.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} --><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I re-explored my love of paint and mixed media collage as well as dabbled in new areas of photography and fused glass.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} --><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Color has always played an important role in my life.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} --><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">My favorite themes revolve around love, flowers and hearts.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:image --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13520c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"13520c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Early Years<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce8a9ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ce8a9ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I am the youngest of 5 children born and raised in a suburb of Buffalo, New York to a rural mail carrier and an elementary school teacher. The \u201carts\u201d were a part of my life since I was a little girl. I started dancing at age 3 and played the flute for many years. My Mother wanted to be an art teacher, but art supplies were too expensive for her to go to art school so she chose elementary education. She was a very creative person and was living her dream through the creative endeavors of her children.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-038b458 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"038b458\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"896\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/about_slide_8.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-307\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/about_slide_8.png 896w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/about_slide_8-300x107.png 300w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/about_slide_8-120x42.png 120w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/about_slide_8-280x100.png 280w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/about_slide_8-580x207.png 580w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/about_slide_8-100x35.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 896px) 100vw, 896px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aab4ca9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aab4ca9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I attended elementary school in the late 60\u2019s. A new art teacher was hired who was just out of college, she wore clogs and wild, wacky, colorful clothes. This young, enthusiastic art teacher exposed me, a young, impressionable girl to various forms of art and her inner creativity. Many of the projects that we created are still etched in my memory. A watercolor painting of bugs created with no color palette limitation. A tempera paint and found objects collage. My collage was red, orange and yellow with steel wool and many textures on cardboard. I remember keeping that collage for a very long time. Our teacher introduced us to clay &#8211; coil pots and pots thrown on the wheel. The surprise patterns of the finished glazes always intrigued me. She taught us to weave on small looms. I am so thankful to have had her as my teacher in those formidable years.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0dbb616 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0dbb616\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"896\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/about_slide_3.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-302\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/about_slide_3.png 896w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/about_slide_3-300x107.png 300w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/about_slide_3-120x42.png 120w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/about_slide_3-280x100.png 280w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/about_slide_3-580x207.png 580w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/about_slide_3-100x35.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 896px) 100vw, 896px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1861bc3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1861bc3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-95190eb\" data-id=\"95190eb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9ec6d5d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9ec6d5d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Career Calling<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-961313e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"961313e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>At the young age of 12, I knew that I wanted to be an interior designer. I knew that I wanted to attend a design school in New York City that started with a P &#8211; either Pratt Institute or Parson School of Design. Reading the school\u2019s brochures was my nightly regimen, studying every course offering over and over. As a freshman in high school I had to personally meet with the art teacher and beg her to be added into her class. She was very tough to convince that I was really interested in art and not an easy grade. But I promised that she would not be sorry if she gave me the chance to prove myself. It worked and she let me matriculate into Studio in Art. I loved every minute of that class and I remember many of the projects. My Studio in Art teacher became the third art mentor in my life. Over the course of my high school years I enrolled in almost all of the art classes that my school offered. I joined the \u201cArt Club\u201d and was voted \u201cMost Artistic\u201d by my class peers in my senior year.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd2f6c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cd2f6c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"242\" height=\"232\" src=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Most-Artistic_r1.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-64\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Most-Artistic_r1.png 242w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Most-Artistic_r1-120x115.png 120w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Most-Artistic_r1-100x95.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 242px) 100vw, 242px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8aa277a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8aa277a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>My dream had come true when I received an acceptance letter from Parsons School of Design (now named Parsons the New School for Design). I attended my dream school and loved almost every minute. The program was difficult and the criticism hard. It was such a great experience to attend school in Manhattan. My roommate Heather and I became best friends and we supported each other through the rigorous program. The first and second year of the program all students sampled projects from product design, interior design, and architecture. The last year we specialized in own chosen discipline, mine being interior design.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21709cd elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"21709cd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"505\" src=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Parsons-Graduation_r1.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-66\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Parsons-Graduation_r1.png 360w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Parsons-Graduation_r1-213x300.png 213w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Parsons-Graduation_r1-120x168.png 120w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Parsons-Graduation_r1-280x392.png 280w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Parsons-Graduation_r1-71x100.png 71w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d84848b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d84848b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0a7de9e\" data-id=\"0a7de9e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3cceb5d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3cceb5d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Interior Design<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e61df8e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e61df8e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>After graduation, I started my career in interior design, specializing in commercial office design. I am NCIDQ certified as well as a Certified Interior Design in New York State. I designed spaces for some of the largest companies in Western New York: Moog, Rich Products, Fisher Price, Tops Markets, M &amp; T Bank and various companies of all sizes. After 12 years, I went to work for a Elderwood Affiliates, an Assisted Living and Nursing Home operator as their Director of Design.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f2fd601 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f2fd601\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"463\" src=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Big-Chair_r1.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-61\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Big-Chair_r1.png 360w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Big-Chair_r1-233x300.png 233w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Big-Chair_r1-120x154.png 120w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Big-Chair_r1-280x360.png 280w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Big-Chair_r1-77x100.png 77w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b669c87 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b669c87\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-22e1da4\" data-id=\"22e1da4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7609ac0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7609ac0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Children, Move, and a Setback<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-99d6c86 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"99d6c86\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>After six years of infertility, we were overjoyed to adopt our daughter. Over the next few years, I was busy raising our daughter while I worked part-time. I loved doing art projects and crafts with my young daughter and volunteering in preschool and elementary school. I truly love being around children and I especially love to watch them create. When my daughter started elementary school I had some time to take fine art classes again. Although Interior Designer is a creative occupation, I did not make the time to paint or create fine art for pure enjoyment, which I truly missed. I enjoyed painting again for two years but with the addition of our son in 2000 fine art was pushed into the background as other responsibilities again became more important.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-359025a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"359025a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"769\" src=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Throwback-030713_B.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-733\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Throwback-030713_B.jpg 550w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Throwback-030713_B-215x300.jpg 215w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe3d08d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fe3d08d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>photo by Short Street Photographers<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3545b28 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3545b28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Both my husband and I had traveled across the United States with our respective families when we were children. California had left an indelible impression in our minds. We disliked the snow and cold of the North East and longed for a different climate. 2003 would mark a major change in our lives, a move to Southern California. We needed a fresh start after the demise of my husband\u2019s business. It was a very difficult transition. After settling everyone in to their new life, I returned to part-time work as an interior designer and became a Certified Interior Designer in California. Less than 3 years after our move: CANCER. Although I was the one diagnosed, the disease affects the whole family. Our family used art to help us process our emotions during this difficult time in our lives.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1624555 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1624555\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"965\" src=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/TBT_8.7.14_B.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-734\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/TBT_8.7.14_B.jpg 650w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/TBT_8.7.14_B-202x300.jpg 202w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16f64ce elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"16f64ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>the day after my cancer diagnosis<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba8ad84 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba8ad84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As many people can attest, cancer forces you to make changes in your life whether you want to or not! Cancer helped me to sort out what was important to me.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong>Cancer taught me to:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Stop and smell the flowers<\/li>\n<li>Don&#8217;t worry about everything &#8211; just the important things<\/li>\n<li>Make memories<\/li>\n<li>Attain balance in work and life<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I also learned that even though a couple can go through the same experience, we all process it differently and have different priorities. In May of 2011, I filed for divorce from my high school sweetheart after 28 years of marriage.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>In August of 2011, I returned to full-time employment in the field of Commercial Property Management and I have added a California Real Estate Salesperson license to my resume.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong>Finding our Way:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Many people told me that it takes many years after a divorce from a long term marriage to heal and find your way. Again, similar to cancer, divorce affects everyone in the family. Over the past 10 years we have all healed and grown in our own way. My Daughter\u00a0 left California a few years ago as she prefers the East coast. She gave birth to my first Grandaughter this past fall. My son is 21 and is working on his degree in psychology.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I am now a Portfolio Manager of Commercial Property and also earned my Real Property Administrator RPA\u00ae designation.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>My day job is quite demanding of my time and Drawn to Color has not had my attention as much as I would have enjoyed over the past few years. I have continued to take additional classes from my &#8220;bucket list&#8221; of artists and my artistic style has changed and evolved as I have. There is nothing quite like playing with paper and paint.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-136348e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"136348e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9d25e41\" data-id=\"9d25e41\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3389d06 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3389d06\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/IMG_9904-768x576.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-744\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/IMG_9904-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/IMG_9904-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/IMG_9904-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-934633a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"934633a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Mary Beth currently resides in Costa Mesa, California with her Son.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About MB photo by @marivicdivina As a little girl, I was encouraged to express myself through art. After a successful 25 year career as an Interior Designer, my journey in life took an unexpected turn. In April 2006, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, while in treatment I re-discovered the healing power of art. I&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/about\/\" class=\"\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">About<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":241,"parent":0,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":954,"href":"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions\/954"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drawntocolorstudios.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}