While Barby Bonnett knew that creating art was her destiny and that Moore College of Art would prepare her, she wasn't sure if she would be able to make a living at it. Where she found her art was in creating pastry that is not only mouth watering but also visually delightful.

And while she knew early on that animals needed protection, not as part of her diet, she didn't know that her love of animals would feature in the pastry she created and would inspire her to paint those endangered animals that needed her help.

Barby's award-winning work is colorful and layered, a technique resulting from her work in pastels.