10/05/2026
Join us on Saturday, May 23, at 7:00 PM Pakistan time.
*About speaker*
You need money in order to live. So how can creativity help you find “out-of-the-box” solutions to life’s biggest challenges — even the challenge of making money?
I once assumed I would have a husband who would provide financially while I focused on being a wife, mother, and homemaker. Life did not turn out that way for me. Instead, I learned to use creativity to generate income, and in the process, I discovered that I was an artist.
I grew up on a dairy farm with no exposure to art. That changed at age 22, when my husband took me and our one-year-old daughter to Italy. The Italian way of life is surrounded by art that has endured for centuries, rooted in love and respect. That experience awakened something in me. I began to see the power of creating beauty — not just for my family, but for the world.
I started making small handmade items and selling them. At first, it was simply a way to earn money and find peace. But I discovered something deeper: creating is powerful medicine. There is incredible joy and validation in making something that others value.
At age 30, a friend introduced me to oil painting. That moment changed everything. Remembering Italy, I asked myself, “How could I make a painting look old?” From that question, my signature style was born: Bella Rotta, meaning “Beautifully Broken” in Italian.
One year later, in 2002, my husband was laid off from his job. Our family needed an “out-of-the-box” solution. I began sharing my Bella Rotta paintings with the world as a way to support us financially.
By 2004, I discovered fine art galleries and realized this was the path forward. Today, my work is displayed in galleries across the United States.
I would be honored to share more of this journey with you and hear your own stories of creativity, resilience, and courage.
Join me on Zoom as we explore how creativity can become a powerful tool for building both a meaningful life and a livelihood.