At the age of six, Zabala entered an art contest by submitting a sketch of a pirate to an art school. A few weeks later a salesman appeared at her parents’ apartment trying to encourage them to enroll the young student in their program. Though the submission of the sketch was a gimmick for the art school to generate sales leads, it inspired the young Zabala. She was convinced she had talent.

At the age of fourteen, Zabala attended the High School of Fashion Industries in New York City, where she learned basic art skills. After High School, Zabala immediately started working full time to support herself and live independently. As life continued, she would get married in her twenties, move to the suburbs, raise a family, and work for over four decades in corporate environments.

Now retired, Zabala is dedicated to nurturing the skill that she discovered at the age of six. Mostly self-taught, she is embracing her talent and is fully immersed in creating pieces that she hopes will invoke positive, thoughtful emotions.

At the of age sixty, Zabala is loving every minute she has a paint brush in her hand.