Laurie Snow Hein started out like many artists – doubtful that she could make a career of her passion. Her parents had insisted it was impossible to make a living as an artist. At age 12, she started studying with Graham Ingels, a retired illustrator and portrait painter in Lantana, Florida. In twelfth grade her high school art teacher encouraged her to apply for art scholarships and she received a full scholarship from Columbus College of Art & Design. After a year of college and winning a scholarship for her second year, she married. At age of 40, when her 6th child was born and oldest was heading to college, her husband lost his job. She decided to try her art as a source of income and her first step was to start teaching and accepting portrait commissions. Her paintings were noticed by a national publisher and, thus, started her career in art.