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Q: What do you enjoy most about teaching?I love teaching. My heart lights up seeing the joy in the eyes of my students when they have completed a piece and like it. I love seeing the light in them as they learn and apply their knowledge to their art pieces. In one class, I had their pieces printed, and when they saw their work, they were surprised at how well it had turned out. A few didn%u2019t believe the art belonged to them until they saw their names on it.Q: Can you share a success story from one of your students?It is difficult to choose just one story. I have taught people who have won many awards in different competitions and others who have gone on to teach digital art themselves.Q: What do you believe is the most important quality for a successful digital artist to have?A true desire to learn! I believe anyone can learn digital art. You start with an image and not a blank canvas. Some will excel, and some will not, but if you are willing to put in the work, it will pay off.Q: What are your future goals and aspirations in your photography and digital art career?I have put my photography on the back burner since I have been teaching. I still photograph past clients when they call wanting family photographs. I plan to teach digital art as long as people keep asking. I want to write a digital art how-to book so all my secret techniques are available to people who cannot find me.Q: How do you stay inspired and keep your creativity flowing?I am an international traveler. I have been to South Africa four times to photograph the wonderful animals, and twice to Ethiopia to photograph the tribes, giving me a multitude of images. I have also traveled to India for tigers, the Pantanal for jaguars, Alaska for bears and eagles, and many other places. The images I photograph keep me inspired, and I share them when I teach. I don%u2019t need stock images because I enjoy having people paint birds and other subjects from my original images, taken in places that fill my heart with happiness.64 MOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 48