Asela Hopkins

I was born in Havana, Cuba in 1963. My parents, brother and I immigrated to Spain and then to the United States of America when I was 2. I turned 3 my first year here. I was named after my father’s sister who died at age 3. She was named after the patron saint of her birthday. My name is pronounced Ah-say-la. (Well, that’s as close as I can get for non-Spanish speakers.)

I was introduced to stamping in 2003 by my son’s second grade teacher. I’ve always been aware of stamps but never really explored their creative possibilities. Prior to stamping I was in the advertising business as a Graphic artist. I did that for 7 years until the birth of my first son James. I’ve been a stay at home mom ever since, and love it!

I’m an artist at heart. I got my degree in Fine Arts back in 1984 and love all mediums, from pen and ink to oils. But I haven’t had the space to set up an easel and paint in a number of years. Stamping allowed me to be creative in a small amount of space. I’ve rediscovered watercolors and my beloved Prismacolor Pencils again thanks to all the wonderful stamps out there.

I’m currently a rubber stamp illustrator for Cornish Heritage Farms. I’m on two design teams and have been published in current stamping magazines from Stampingtons’ Take Ten to Rubber Stamper.

I have a great family. I have two beautiful boys, James 15 and Benjamin, who is going to be 11 in August. My husband is an officer in the Navy and we have just relocated back to beautiful north Florida after spending 4 years in Southern California. We have been married 22 years. My dream right now is to build a home here with my own art studio! Oh wouldn’t that be grand.

You can follow all of my adventures in stamping on my blog,
http://hopartstudios.typepad.com/hop_art_studios/