My Story

Hello! My name is Rina Zembrzuski, and I’ve had a love affair with art for as long as I can remember.

I’m a first-generation Filipino-American who grew up with the notion that success meant obtaining a degree, working for a prestigious company, earning a salary, and having a 401k. This, combined with the knowledge of an artist’s average wage and self-doubt, deterred me from pursuing a creative career path.

Instead, I went into the world of Information Technology (IT) - coding installers, dabbling in mobile technology, and IT Asset Management. It came naturally to me and opened the doors to corporate America. Yet, I had no desire to move up the corporate ladder. In an attempt to find more excitement in my life, I turned to traveling and committed to experiencing life for all its wonders. I jumped out of an airplane, swam with sharks, and even learned how to ride a motorcycle.

Still, the artistic part of me was crying out for nourishment. I continued my day job but began attending the New School’s Parsons School of Design for their non-accredited Fashion Design Certificate Program. I loved learning about the process of design, illustration, live model drawing, and making my own creations. I was one class shy of completion when I dropped out. I simply refused to take the history course because it wasn’t where my interests lay and I was on a mission to do things that set my soul on fire.  

As much as I enjoyed the art of fashion, there were so many other art forms I was itching to try. My interests and projects varied, including pottery, painting, interior design, photography, and graphic design.

Through this journey, I discovered I have ADHD – a brain-related disorder that most people generalize as the inability to focus. I initially thought that too, but through my personal experiences with the condition, I have come to understand that it’s much more complex and nuanced than this.

After being diagnosed, I devoted myself to treatment and learning about my disorder. The transformational self-awareness that came with understanding the science of how my mind worked felt like evolving from a zombie to a human. Over time, I learned to overcome my demons and, with the help of professional therapy, guided meditation, and investing time into my art, I found peace through self-forgiveness, self-acceptance, and gratitude.

Finally, after 20 years in IT, the desire to try something new was stronger than ever before. Financially I was making more than I’d ever imagined, but I was sad to realize that I had lost a part of myself along the way. I dedicated my time and energy to keeping up with the demand and improving processes and efficiency. My workload had tripled, and I found myself working around the clock to the detriment of my health and my family.

Something simply had to change, so I took a bold step and resigned. My goal from that point on was to engage in something meaningful that I was passionate about and that would allow me to spend more time with my family. This is how the idea for Scattered Artist was born. 

I founded Scattered Artist to help spread awareness about ADHD and share my artistic journey as I explore art in its many forms: painting, drawing, graphic design, fashion design, makeup, body art, and anything else my scattered mind dares to try.

Thank you for being a part of my new adventure. I can’t wait to connect with you throughout this journey!