My Story:

Once upon a time—the 1980s to be exact—a little girl is born on the sun…or as most people know it, Las Vegas. As soon as she is able, she picks up a pencil and begins drawing people—all types of people. Her interest in drawing figures and exploring the human form emerges and her wonderful, encouraging parents enroll her in art classes. In second grade, a classmate of the girl commissions her to draw Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator for $1.

As the years pass, her passion for art endures.

At thirteen, she is accepted into the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing, and Visual Arts in downtown Las Vegas. She ends up on Fremont Street nearly every day during lunch break; this hour quickly becomes just as interesting as her art classes and leads to further inspiration from the diverse population she encounters.

She takes her first photography class as a high school sophomore and is intrigued by the process of composing and developing film. Naturally, her favorite subject to photograph is people.

Eager to attend college, she graduates one year early from high school and embarks on her college career at UNLV. Entering as a Visual Arts major, she enjoys starting school at 10 AM and learns more than she can possibly remember.

While in college, she begins moonlighting as a caricature artist on the Las Vegas Strip; she feels very lucky to be able to earn a living drawing people from all over the globe.

At twenty-one, she temporarily leaves her beloved hometown. Destination: Spain. She quickly falls in love with the Spanish culture, people and language. Dazzled by Barcelona, it quickly becomes her favorite city—second only to Las Vegas. She eventually returns to her birthplace with fresh ideas and newfound inspiration. Upon arrival, she photographs her first wedding and is excited by the thrill and emotion of the occasion. During this time, she finishes her final semester of college and completes an internship with Trifecta Art Gallery. Upon graduating cum laude from UNLV, she moves full-steam ahead and creates a photography business called Top Banana Studios. 

To date, her work has appeared in the Las Vegas Sun, Las Vegas Weekly, DRAFT magazine, and various websites and blogs. She is especially honored that her photos and art adorn the walls of her fabulous clients’ homes throughout the world.

She is currently creating her happily ever after.