At first I thought you paint only when inspired, ... I'd do nothing, then I'd paint 10 paintings in a week. Then I'd fret.

In high school I did well academically and athletically, ... I never thought about not succeeding. Thankfully I have the God-given ability to do it.

My mom says it was a very special moment between us, ... but I was still frustrated because I wanted to draw the cat like the one in the book.

[That studio was built for her father shortly before his death from cancer in 1978.] It was a little daunting to come in here and come to terms with his spirit, ... but I always felt he was on my side, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps.

[Rather than waiting for inspiration, the artist started to find inspiration just by continually working her canvases. As her confidence grew, the panic she'd experienced when something wasn't perfect, abated.] It's like being cold in winter and you can't imagine that you'll ever be hot, or hot in summer, when you don't believe you'll ever be cold, ... Now I say, 'It's OK. You know this feeling.'

[Her confusion grew. She didn't know what to paint other than landscapes, and they did nothing to inspire her.] I was always desperate, ... Time was passing ... . Then Trey Friedman, a mentor, said, 'Just paint.'