Hózhó in Life

Creativity flourished in me at a young age. Some of my earliest memories are of playing with beads and sinew in my dad’s arts and crafts store in Tucson, Arizona. I spent a lot of time there, so I naturally used the materials around me to do things like bead my own moccasins.

From there, I recall gathering crayons and colored pencils, always wanting to draw. In school, I didn’t flourish as much. My home life felt more chaotic at times, so I often coped by creating. I would daydream in class, lose focus easily, and struggle to connect with the learning. However, when it came to art, things flowed naturally. I was often recognized in school showcases for my work.

When I moved back to Chinle, Arizona, I turned to art and haven’t looked back since. It has always grounded me. I created many pieces using just colored pencils and crayons, and I still keep a set of both on hand—especially now with my two young sons, who enjoy them as well.

Lately, I find myself keeping my hands busy with teaching art to middle school students, as well as weaving, ceramics, and painting. I hope to find more opportunities to showcase my talents on this website and share my creative gifts with others.