Meet April

A Little About Me

A little about me

How Did I Get Started Painting?

As a little girl, I loved that my initials spelled the word ART, and I was always finding something creative to do. I loved drawing, doing puzzles, filling in coloring books with my cousins at grandma's kitchen table, sewing clothing for my dolls and figuring out how mom's sewing machine worked in the process, creating with cross-stitch and crochet, and even rearranging the furniture and artwork in my bedroom just to see what I could come up with.

Funny enough, despite my mom's insistence that I take art classes in school, I never took a single one in my early years. I was a little stubborn and preferred figuring things out on my own! So, while creativity was always a part of my life, painting wasn't something I actually tried until I was an adult, when I finally picked up a paintbrush and decided to give it a go.

Eventually, I decided it was time to actually take some art classes (better late than never, right?) and learn a little more about the techniques and skills behind the things I wanted to create. I've loved being able to continue learning, trying new mediums, and discovering just how much there is to explore in the world of art.

A childhood memory

A Few Clues That I Was Always Going to Be Creative...

  • My initials literally spelled ART.
  • I loved drawing and coloring with my cousins at Grandma's kitchen table.
  • I taught myself to sew on a machine (and how to fix it!) so I could make myself doll clothing.
  • I would get lost in cross-stitching and crocheting for extended periods of time.
  • I was always rearranging my bedroom furniture and artwork just to experiment with the look.
  • LEGO's were my favorite toy back in the days before pre-created boxes.
  • I somehow managed to avoid every art class my mom encouraged me to take!
Creative childhood inspiration

Always Learning, Always Creating

1. Mesa High School
    Honors diploma

2. Mesa Community College
    Associate of Arts (2012)
    Associate of General Studies (2014)
    Drawing and acrylic art classes

3. Brigham Young University–Idaho
    Bachelor's in University Studies (2017)
    Digital design classes

4. Mesa Arts Center
    Watercolor animals (2022)
    Classical portrait drawing (2023), both with Tal Dvir

5. Scottsdale Artist School
    Landscape painting workshops with Paul Steele and Jed Dorsey (2026)

6. Gilbert Visual Arts League
    Member since 2026

Magazine article featuring my artwork

Things I Love to Do (and Things I'm Good At!)

Artistic Eye & Color
Seeing beauty in color, composition, and detail.

Painting & Design
Acrylic, watercolor, digital and graphic design.

Organization
Planning, coordinating, and bringing ideas together.

Digital Creativity
Website creation and digital projects.

April enjoying her creative work

Other Ways I've Put My Creativity to Work:

Founder & Retreat Organizer
Lighten Retreats
2025–Present

I organize women's wellness retreats focused on creativity and connection. I manage marketing, website content, activity planning, and behind-the-scenes logistics to ensure each retreat runs smoothly.

Volunteer Leader & Event Coordinator
Boy Scouts of America
2008–2020

I supported youth development, coordinated events and training, mentored volunteers, and organized activities. I developed strong communication, planning, and problem-solving skills.


When I'm Not Holding a Paintbrush, I'm...

  • Reading
  • Paddleboarding
  • Traveling
  • Making memories with my grandkids
  • Being in nature
  • Hiking
  • Sewing
  • Crafting
  • Learning Spanish!
  • Exploring somewhere new
  • Spending time with family and friends


Still Growing. Still Creating. Still Dreaming.

I want to continue growing as an artist, learning new techniques, exploring different mediums, and developing my own artistic voice. More than anything, I hope to create work that lasts beyond me—something that can be enjoyed, remembered, and passed along to future generations.