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The pink room becomes a key in Noma's journey. After many years of trying to identify herself, she returns to this place she once called a living hell, this little pink room and reassesses her life. "Although long past, I still wear the pink walls around my frail neck as if they were a velvet black choker centered with a shiny red ruby, a continual glowing reminder of that distant time that gave birth to a perpetual state bordering on the unconscious. The pink room brought to the forefront a seemingly endless display of visually revealing forms," Noma's constant reminder that everything colors yours life.

Your paintings have an ethereal quality, where do you get your inspiration?
My father, he was my inspiration. Although he was a furniture designer and his work was more technical, he and my mother were encouraging and supportive. Also, my inspiration comes from the air I breathe, nature, my heart, my son, my daughter-in-law, my dog. Everything around me inspires me. I was born to paint.

How would you describe your paintings?
I paint in symbols and metaphors. For example my in painting "Freedom" the branches represent being connected with nature and not material possessions. "Open" is a painting of Jim and myself with the ivies connecting our hearts. "Car" is a self portrait of me holding my son and my dog on a leash. The car represents when my son became of driving age he was off and I'm left with my dog.

Do you do any of your work on the computer?
Very little on the computer, some cloning and texture effects, but mostly my work is done with acrylic paints.

Do you consider yourself an illustrator or a fine artist?
In the mid-90's I had my work in a gallery, but I never liked being on display. When I met Jim, who is an illustrator, he encouraged me to work in the commercial field as an illustrator. In 2002 Frank Sturges contacted me to represent my work for both commercial and editorial projects. I like working as an illustrator. It's better than being on display.

What happen to the canvases afterwards?
I brought them back to the states had them finished and then I sent one to the office in Virginia and the other to Morocco to be auctioned off. The money went back to Operation Smile. http://www.operationsmile.org

How did you meet your husband, Jim Bliss?
In the mid-90s I was working in a gallery and was first introduced to Jim's work. Later we met at a group luncheon. Together as a fine artist and an illustrator, working together, exchanging ideas. Then 1997 hit. Jim got bone cancer, lost his half of his leg, he quit smoking and then both of our moms got sick and both died. It was a very difficult time for both of us. During this ordeal, my divorce was final, Jim asked me to marry him, Stefan, my son was a teenager. Working as a freelance illustrator was difficult, no steady income. Trying to keep it together only to find that a part of me died along with my mother. Life was so painful for the next three years.

What happen after 1997? Did this experience make you stronger?
In 1999 Jim and I were married and moved outside of NYC. There are still challenges everyday, but the walls are no longer pink, yet they persist-just different colors. The smoke has disappeared and Jim's at peace, finally at peace. I will always take care of him. I continue to illustrate and design one of kind paintings for art collectors, corporations, editorial and commercial projects. Recently I sold one of-a-kind of painting to a private collector in Vancouver. But my priorities will always be my love for Jim and my family.