I am a St.Louis area native artist. I have had many challenges in my life as we all have, but not everyone goes back to art because of it. As a single mother, for many years, I was working 2-3 jobs, not getting much free time, and having nothing to show from it. My walls were bare. I didn't have money to get artwork, but I could create my own. I use to be a decent artist, why not create my own art to deck my own walls? So, that's when I got back into art...but bills had to be paid and I was a divorced, single mom, so back to 16-19 hours a day at my jobs. I was struggling in my life and my health began to severely go downhill. I was always a sick kid, but I thought I had outgrown it, but the stress I had in my mid-twenties with a really bad marriage, 2-3 jobs, and being a mom with a ton of guilt let me know that I was bracing for a real health struggle. Eventually, I would be diagnosed with an inflammation gene, arthritic autoimmunes, and a genetic primary immunodeficiency. No longer a single parent, but still the breadwinner, I have a younger child with my second husband who is the stay-at-home dad on disability, I can't physically keep exerting myself the way I have been for 20 years. It's taking a great toll on my health. So, I work my day job and I sell my artwork to supplement my income. I am not ready to throw in the towel, yet, and go on disability. I am too young for that, but I can cut back and focus on creating and selling my art.