Born and raised in southern California, Laurel grew up in L.A. and settled in San Diego after attending college at UCSD where she majored in Biochemistry and minored in Film and Video. In 2001, she volunteered with the non-profit Share the Care to illustrate their teacher’s arts and crafts dental health manual. For this, she was recognized as February 2003 “Volunteer of the Month” by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. In 2003 she started a company, DonnaBellas, for selling her art. Under her company, she has done private commission paintings, murals, storyboards, and online stores (zazzle.com and cafepress.com).
Laurel also pursued a career in clinical research, focusing on new treatments for cancer, but quickly recognized her art could help here as well. In 2007, she incorporated her non-profit, “DonnaBellas Angels” (donnabellasangels.org) with the motto “Medicine Heals the Body, Art Heals the Soul”. The non-profit features inspirational art for mental health wellness. Through donations of art prints and art royalty use, DonnaBellas Angels has enjoyed international success. Her art is featured in many prominent cancer clinics across the United States. The art is available for purchase at online stores (zazzle.com, cafepress.com) In 2013, Laurel has started another artistic project “Awareness Gallery” (awarenessgallery.com) that features artistically styled awareness ribbons. That art is also available for purchase online stores (zazzle.om and cafepress.com).
Laurel is starting to teach her inspirational art to others at SpiritPlaybook.com.
Laurel looks forward to having a career in children’s books as both an author and illustrator. She is a member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Thank you!
