More than 90% 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 has become more and more intimidating because I still want to hold my work up to the standards of the visual world. I realize that the colors or details may not be exact, and I can only hope 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 usually means daylight along with extra lamps and magnification for small areas. It has become impossible for me to decipher colors. I try to keep my pastels or paints in good order so I have an idea of what color I’m using. I work with pastels for their richness and the process of working from dark to light works well for me. My compositions can be people, places or things but they always have to touch me in some way. The contrast of values is what I focus on now more than worrying about the exactness of colors. When I have finished a painting, I check my values and lines but the end result of my color choices is a surprise to me.
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.
