I always dreamed of being an artist.

My art has changed my life tremendously.

I don't know what I'd do without my art.

Queen Brooke's purpose in life is clear.

And so I have this group of support that keeps me focused and keeps me oriented towards what I'm doing.

And it's wonderful to go through life with a sense of knowing why you're here and a sense of direction.

The themes of my work, I would say, initially started in the painting and wood burnings with African mythology.

And I started a study.

That I wanted to pursue myself.

I started to investigate African mythology and myths and also black folk art, which I'm very fond of.

And so basically my art is composed of patterns and it's very narrative.

I get lost in those things and it is a way of escape for me.

I use a variety of media, at the present time I'm using wood and I will be using glass too.

But I'm doing this collaging thing that I haven't done before with the wood burning.

But I like the resistance that wood gives, I like to feel the wood, I love wood, and I really love wood and I want to see what all I can do with it.

I got started in wood burning actually through the help of children.

I used to be an arts instructor and I ran across a wood burning instrument and I thought that the kids would really enjoy doing that and so I got a few and I started playing with it.

This piece is called, People We Don't Know.

Maybe I should call it, People we Don't Wanna Know.

Once I start working, I may work on it all night.

It usually, for large pieces, this takes me about three months or more.

I've never seen anyone else do this type of work.

Queen's artwork is spiritually bound.

It's very earthy and strengthened by some kind of understanding that is deeper than I think she understands or even I understand.

But her artwork is so connected with her own humanity and I felt that immediately.

Queen's work can be viewed at the PeaceWorks Gallery in downtown Columbus.

Queen's artwork has given me a reason for being.

She is the core of the gallery and the core of what I'm actually doing at the gallery.

I represent Queen, so therefore we have a special relationship and I have no relationship like that with any other of my artists.

We work very well together.

I remember as a young adult in my 20s, in my middle 20s working at Western Electric, I used to dream of being an artist, you know, with the stereotypes and all, you know, I just had and everything, you know, wanted to be this artist and when it happened, it was like a prayer answered.

I went through almost half of my lifetime wanting to be this artist.

And it took me so long to get here because I had no one to encourage me.

I want to be here for other black youth that have not had the encouragement to pursue the arts.