“More than 80% of what I see in the physical world ranges from muted colors to grays to black. I have a minimal field of vision and what I do see is blurred. As natural or artificial light around me dims, so does my vision. Working on a painting and having a visual impairment can be frustrating, but it can be liberating too. I always want the piece to be aesthetically pleasing but if the colors or details aren’t exact, I feel that it can add to the personality of the painting. Ultimately, this makes my style looser and more expressive.
“I have to work in the best possible lighting, which means daylight with extra lamps and magnification for small areas. It has become close to impossible for me to decipher colors. So, I keep my pastels or paints in good order so I have an idea of what color I’m using, and I focus more on the values. I work with pastels for richness and brightness and my compositions can be people, places or things. Since my vision is blurred, I prefer to work on silhouettes rather than detailed portraits.
“I have taken art classes through my life and continue to do so. I enjoy learning new techniques and receiving constructive criticism and positive input. I have always had a love for art and on this journey as a visually impaired artist, I think my artwork has improved since I’ve stopped trying to be such a visual perfectionist and started trusting my intuition. My paintings have been exhibited at art galleries, exhibits, restaurants and boutiques.”
