I graduated with a degree in fine arts from the University of Wisconsin—Madison. I have always been attracted to facial expression, color, humor, and composition within portraiture, cityscapes, and illustration. I was raised in a home with an allergic mother and dreamt of having a kitten or puppy of my own one day. Once out of the house, my dream came true and my cat, Orangina, blessed me with her sassy presence.

One night Orangina and I were chatting over some Merlot and she came up with a grand idea. "Maya! You should paint pet portraits for people who love their pets as much as you love me! I know! You could call them PAWtraits!" Ohhh Orangina, sometimes you take it too far. But the business idea was born. I enjoy personifying pets through facial expression and bringing these whimsical potrtraits into people's homes.