Ali told me she really loves when people call and say “we’ve been wanting one of your pieces for years, or we’ve been watching your career for 5 years.” As with many artists, she wants to “connect” with people who experience her art. I think she feels people have a better understanding of her as an artist and as a person when they experience her art. The first piece she sold was one that got her published in a major art publication that featured a home. Her art was a centerpiece of the feature and it helped launch her career on a professional level. Ali believes if you engage someone early in life, then they become your advocate, both as an artist and a person.