I have been freehanding  my art since I was a child. I have attended several classes in "How to make a presentable book dummy" I'm a member of the SCBWI. I attented their conference in New York City in Feb 2006, from there I attented the conference in Los Angeles, Aug 2006, I had my portfolio viewed by Melissa Sweet, illustrator of "Baby Bears Book" she liked my style, she told me to get it out there. I attented the Tomie dePaola Illustrator class at the LA conference, he reviewed our work and made suggustion.I learned a lot from the all the members in the class. I illustrated a Holiday book for "First Time Books" in Chicago, this year, which will be available for next Christmas, I was also hired to do their ABC, book and others as they write them. I will/have attended the NY Conference in Feb 2008, which I will attend the all day Illustration program and have over 200+ publishing houses view my portfolio.