Gabrielle b. McLean’s painting career began 30 years ago when she took a part-time job painting children’s murals primarily for hospitals while studying at University. Three years later, the same year she received her degree in Political Science, her apartment was destroyed in the Northridge Earthquake. In less than 20 seconds, she lost her job and her home. The crossroad that was created in those 20 seconds drove her to seriously consider what she wanted to do with her life. Interestingly, being a “painter” was an option, while being an “artist” was not. The choice at that point was to continue on the higher education route or start a mural painting business of her own. Her love of painting made the final decision, and gave her the courage to start her own business working with interior designers in early 1995. In 2009, Gabrielle moved to Costa Mesa and in 2010, moved her studio from her garage to a warehouse. In 2015, she founded Heartfelt Play Studio.