About
Hey there, and welcome to my website! My name is Erika. Let me give you a glimpse into my journey.
My story begins in the vibrant city of Yokohama, Japan, where I spent my formative years until completing high school. Then life led me across the world to Fresno, California, where I pursued higher education at California State University, Fresno. I was fortunate to earn a soccer scholarship, and those college years hold some of my fondest memories. My major was in Physical Education within the field of Kinesiology, with dreams of becoming a PE teacher. However, a fractured lower back steered me toward a different path.
Upon graduating, I ventured into student aid roles in various middle and high schools. It was a transformative experience where I gleaned valuable insights. One student, in particular, left an indelible mark – she was deaf and faced challenges in her daily life. I embarked on a journey to learn American Sign Language, starting with alphabets, so I could communicate better. My student and her friends taught me the true essence of signing, and we spent a whole year together. This period awakened a new aspiration within me – to teach languages.
With a determination to teach languages like Japanese and English, I pursued a Master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language in Linguistics at Fresno State. During this time, I shared my knowledge by teaching Japanese to college students and leading English test prep classes at an American English Institute. Armed with my degree, I set my sights on Los Angeles, where life had more surprises in store – including marrying my husband.
Amid these chapters, life handed both challenges and blessings. A promising teaching interview had to be postponed due to a miscarriage, but my journey toward motherhood continued with the arrival of two beautiful children. The joys and challenges of motherhood reshaped my perspective, and amidst it all, I stumbled upon the enchanting world of dot mandala painting.
Especially after my second miscarriage, dot mandala painting became my sanctuary – a space where I found solace in every carefully placed dot on the canvas. Nights became my canvas, and during the day, I embraced motherhood with open arms. As time passed, I explored other creative avenues, from different mandala mediums to the captivating realm of zen doodle. Each form of expression held its own magic.
It's been quite a journey for me to get to this point. I've spent countless hours immersed in my passion for drawing and painting, but taking the leap to start my newsletter and open my shop has been a challenge. I couldn't help but wonder: What if nobody signs up for my mailing list? What if people don't connect with my artwork? What if I don't make any sales at all? These "what if" questions have been playing on my mind.
Then, a thought struck me. What if I put aside those worries and actually started taking action? I realized that many of these concerns were stemming from my own fears. Even when I tried to launch my shop in 2020, the COVID-19 hit the world hard. Then I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. In the summer of 2022, when I tried to open my online shop again, life threw me curveballs again. An unexpected flood disrupted our lives, forcing us into hotels for over half a year. During that period, I turned to drawing while painting took a backseat. A year after the flood, I finally summoned the courage to open my online shop – a dream I'd held for years. Timing had been elusive, but summer of 2023, I took that significant leap forward.
It's a bit surreal for me to believe that I've come this far. Though it may seem small to some, for me, it's monumental. I'm excited to expand my art collection and nurture my small business, and I'm thrilled to have you join me on this journey. Your presence and interest mean the world to me. Thank you for sharing this adventure with me!!
Xoxo,
