Welcome! Thank you for stopping by to view my work.

I work primarily with photography and mixing it with traditional art processes and experimental techniques in printmaking. My background in photography began early during my late teens. I continued to pursue education and jobs in the photography industry in Texas until I moved to Santa Barbara, California to acquire my B.A. in Professional Photography from Brooks Institute in 2002.

I chose Digital Media as my main emphasis with a secondary major in Portraiture. As a witness to the transition from analog processes to digital technology, the decision has equipped me with many tools to navigate the transition and successfully combine the two worlds. Experimentation and the pure discovery process of combining the digital and analog worlds allows me to dig deep into my imagination when creating artwork.

I have found my voice and I am speaking up! As a childhood sexual abuse survivor and domestic abuse survivor, I have a lot to say. I feel strongly about injustices and loss of freedom committed against marginalized communities and people. The importance of recovery and mental health wellness are also very close to my heart and hold special meaning for me.

As a granddaughter of a Japanese immigrant, I recognize and appreciate the journey and hardships my grandmother went through to survive not only WWII, but to try and make a “normal” American life for herself and her family in 1950’s Texas as a foreigner. I pay much homage to my Japanese ancestry in my themes and art. I am grateful for my grandmother’s resilience and I am happy to be her granddaughter and carry the Manaka name for our family.

In reflecting back on my family and life, I see the beauty and strength of love which can shine through all darkness, illuminating certain truths in us all.

Art is my love. Art is my refuge. Art is my voice. Art saved my life. And art should be accessible to everybody. EVERYONE has a spark of creativity in them. You just have to find what ignites the spark! For myself, it is gratitude for my life. I enjoy expressing this gratitude through my artwork and teaching art to others. 

Humbled and grateful for all of my life lessons and experiences, I am fortunate to have the most amazing people who surround me with their love and support, reminding me of my incredible luck every day. A very big Thank You to my family and friends for always pushing me beyond my self-perceived limits.

When I am not working in my little office/art studio in downtown Santa Barbara, I can be usually found behind a loom or a printing press, freelancing for Serena Lee Photography or catching the closest Thievery Corporation concert. Sometimes, my vegetable garden gets attention, too.

I reside in beautiful, sunny Santa Barbara with my rad brother.

Check out my music playlist I use to inspire art creativity!