I was born & raised in the desert town of Apple Valley, CA. At birth, it was discovered I had congenital cataracts in both eyes & at only 1 week old, I underwent surgery to remove both cataracts. To this day, I am legally blind without my corrective lenses & I refuse to let any visual impairments hinder my passion for art & creativity!

At a young age, art went from a hobby to a passion instantly. With no formal training, I had a natural ability for drawing & my family inspired me to pursue it. Winning art contests & being recognized as a talented young artist throughout the community & my high school, I composed an impressive portfolio which earned me acceptance to Otis College of Art & Design, Art Institute & Art Center. However, I was unable to afford the tuition fees & decided to continue my education at Victor Valley Community College.

I have always been a traditional artist who preferred a pencil & paper to a mouse & computer screen & I fought learning computer graphics until I realized the future of art careers would require computer skills. In 2003, I graduated Valedictorian with my Associates Degree in Fine Arts & a Graphic Design Certificate. After college, I became the sole Graphic Artist for a local screen printer where I designed custom t-shirt graphics & logos for schools businesses, & sports teams internationally.

In 2006, my creative career took another big move as I relocated to San Clemente, CA to become the newest Graphic Artist to join the Focus On Souvenirs family. You can see my pins, key rings, magnets & other custom souvenir items at Disneyland, Universal Studios, the United Nations, National Parks, Las Vegas Resorts & many more nationwide locations!

In 2007, I started my own company, Artwistic Creations, with my husband, Fred Nelsen, who is also a very talented artist.
I am often commissioned to paint portraits of loved ones who have passed away & I‘m told that those paintings bring incredible comfort & peace.

As an artist, I want to share my gift with everyone... including you!

Acrylic People Portraits

Acrylic Misc Subjects