Hope first had the chance to sit down and paint with Valerie Stewart at the 2026 Oklahoma City Painting Palooza after hearing about her work for some time. The class offered a fresh look at portrait storytelling through a child-and-dog design, which Hope adapted in her usual way—changing the original boy into a girl and adjusting the puppy to make the painting feel more personal. Hope plans to study with Valerie again when the opportunity comes up.