Matthew J. Baek

My mother claims that I drew a perfect circle when I was one years of age. I have a feeling that there is a bit of an exaggeration, I mean, I'm sure I drew something close to a circle but I'm sure it was nothing close to perfection. It is true that I was always drawing ever since I could remember and my mother knew there was something special. I lived in a time and place where it was forbidden to write with your left hand. Being a lefty everyone from school teachers to neighborhood granny tried to fix what they considered a problem. Sometimes things got harsh to the point where I didn't want to draw anymore. I felt as if my childhood was snatched out from me all because of which hand I wrote with. My mother, bless her heart, supported me 100% and argued with teachers to let me be. Our family moved to the states when I was nine and ever since then I was free to spread my left wing. Now, I illustrate and write children's book and it is like being a kid again. I can't ask for anything more.