I knew I was an artist from a very young age. It was in my genes - my dad, a professional photographer and my mom, an oil painter. I wanted to be a graphic designer. I only applied to one university - East Carolina University because it was known for having the best art school in the North Carolina, where I was born and raised. I graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Fine Art with a concentration in Graphic Design. But I did it all while there - photography, figure drawing, jewelry making, textile art, architecture, interior design, pottery, metalwork, art history, glasswork, painting, color theory...you name it - I had at least one class in it!