I met this girl at Anime Expo some years ago. Her art struck me as truly visionary, and I hovered over her table for quite a while, chatting with her a touch. Mostly listening in on her conversations with others, to get a feel for what kind of person she was. I try to do this with most artists to lighten the otherwise droll act of commerce.

She was sweet, and generous, and I never felt her attention and smiles were anything but genuine.

I took home prints of her work, and later commissioned her for a piece immortalizing Aram, a character of mind from a gaming campaign. The creative process between us was, to me, an awesome experience but also a little frightening. It was the visionary nature of her pieces that drew me to her, and I had a vision for this piece, but I felt unworthy to be consulting /with/ her on the conceptual aspects of the piece, for surely her instinct was superior to mine. The final result of those exchanges was /perfect/. Her image matched my vision so amazingly well, I imagined she had supernatural powers.

In the years since our meeting at Anime Expo, I had not returned to the con due to my obligations with Anthrocon. But I always desired to, to see her again and pay my thanks in person. I deeply wish I would have had the chance to know her better before her passing.

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My shout to her page:
"I will always remember you as that sweet girl I met in passing at a convention and in time came to admire and respect. Wherever you may be now, I am certain beauty follows you. May your lingering light burn eternal."

("lingering light" refers to the scholarship fund being raised in her name)

EDIT: her last post was most forboding. "Death and the Maiden" (mature due to artistic nudity)
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(stamp courtesy of =ZamieCat)