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 the 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.
Practically speaking, I have to work in the best possible lighting, which usually means daylight along with extra lamps and magnification for small areas. When you look at my paintings, you see something that I do not – that is the color. Therefore, I try to 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 of figures 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: before, during and after my continuous loss of vision. My paintings have been exhibited at art galleries, exhibits, restaurants and shops.
