Meet the Artist
When Zabala was six, she entered an art contest by submitting a sketch of a pirate to an art school. A few weeks later, a salesman appeared at her parents’ apartment trying to encourage them to enroll the young student in their program. Though the contest was a gimmick used by the school to generate sales leads, it inspired her. She was convinced she had talent.
At the age of 14, Zabala attended the High School of Fashion Industries in New York City, where she learned basic art skills. After graduating, she immediately began working full-time to support herself and live independently. She would go on to get married, move to the suburbs, raise a family, and work for over 40 years in corporate environments.
Now in her sixties, Zabala is loving every minute she has a paintbrush in her hand, and is dedicated to nurturing the skill that she discovered as a child. Mostly self-taught, she is embracing her talent and is fully immersed in creating pieces that she hopes will evoke positive, thoughtful emotions.