Brunswick woman STEAMs ahead in business and hobbies

BRUNSWICK, Ohio - We hear a lot lately about STEAM education.

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. It integrates these disciplines to foster critical thinking, creativity and innovation among students.

It's become commonplace in our schools.

But it is not common to find a person who has successfully combined science and art.

Amanda Reynolds is one of those rare individuals.

A resident of Brunswick, her business, Best View Ultrasounds, is located in Medina. When she is not taking diagnostic and keepsake ultrasounds, she's busy with a paintbrush.

Born in Virginia, she came to Northeast Ohio with her family and attended Cuyahoga Community College.

"They have a wonderful diagnostic medical sonography program," she said.

"It intrigues me being able to not only look at people from the outside, but to look inside and find a problem that can be fixed."

Her business is located on Homestead Street in Medina, part of a number of other practices in Radiant Joy.

Those businesses are all related to pregnancy, including midwives, doulas, home births, massage therapy and more.

Reynolds' business not only specializes in virtually all medical ultrasounds, but in high definition ultrasound "keepsakes" for expectant parents.

"Memories in 4D" includes ultrasound photo collages and some very artistic ways to use those photos to create lifelong memories.

"We believe that every family should have the opportunity to experience the fun and excitement that 3D-4D ultrasounds bring," Reynolds said.

Reynolds has always loved art and has delved into almost every medium over the years, including watercolor and acrylics.

But when she was asked to do face painting for the first time, she fell in love with it.

"It's just like painting in canvas," she said, "but the painting moves!"

Each year, she has been at the final day of the Healthy Kids Running Series in Brunswick, painting the faces of all the youngsters - and some adults.

Onlookers see she always seems to be enjoying herself.

She has also worked with churches and other groups at special events to provide that extra bit of fun.

At some of those big events, she limits the number of choices from which people can choose, but also tries to paint special requests if there is time.

"It's interesting that in face painting, you use several colors on one brush, similar to some forms of acrylic painting."

She pointed to a painting of a rose on the wall at Kelly's Café, where she was being interviewed, explaining it's the same way the depth of color is produced.

She's expecting to be at the final race again this fall and is looking forward to continuing her favorite artistic and scientific professions.