Who She Was
Joanna (Jo to her friends) was born in the late 70's in Piraeus, Greece.
She lost her father early, and ever since she has been truly attached to her only family - her mother and younger brother. Sophia, her mom, was the most important and intimate figure in Jo's life. She was her best friend, confidante, roommate, mentor and hardest critic! But also so proud of Jo and her drawing capabilities, evident since Jo was a young child… and for good reason!
Jo had an accident in her late teens. Upon falling off her loft bed one of her eyes detached. She underwent surgery but laser correction was not an option then. However, even with one eye at the time - she took the early admittance talent test required by the prestigious Athens School of Fine Arts.
During the intermission she expressed her fears to her mom that she would not be able to pass. She was placed in a seat at the farthest end of the amphitheater unable to see correctly the statue of Hermes, the one she was required to draw. She was embarrassed to admit her handicap of being unable to see clearly from such a distance in public. Her mother encouraged her and asked her to have faith in her talent and capabilities. She was so right! Jo, the youngest of the 1,500 participants, ranked first among them as an early bright talent, eligible to attend on a scholarship once she would graduate from high school!
Her artistic nature always came first in her life… she would see beauty everywhere around, beauty she felt the need to express and reproduce on paper, canvas… a PC monitor later on.
