As a child growing up in Japan, Mieko immersed herself in the joy of drawing, painting and Japanese calligraphy. It wasn’t long, however, before traditional Japanese society interpreted Mieko’s artistic vision as eccentric. Feeling discouraged, Mieko put her brushes down for long, long time. As a teenager, Mieko discovered the art of photography and for the next several years set out to capture the beauty of her surroundings. In her mid-20’s Mieko met her soul mate, Douglas Hoffman, a fellow photographer. Together they started Maui Photography, Inc. and became one of the most successful photography businesses on Maui. In 2001, Mieko was once again drawn to painting, only this time in the realm of the digital art world. She began to study and master digital imaging through an intense Corel Painter and Adobe Photoshop training program. Still reluctant to express her vision on canvas, a chance meeting with the right mentor helped set free the artist within. Today, Mieko has developed her own unique style and has taken her place among Maui’s premier artists'. Mieko resides in Maui, Hawaii with her husband Douglas, their 3-year-old daughter Hana and two canines Yap and Finn. About Mieko...