Losing My Fear of Color

As a child, I used to watch my father always drawing.  He was not a professional artist but he had once aspired to be one. My father's drawings were so accurate and I would always try to please him with my own attempts.  He would patiently explain how I could improve them and I would learn something from him every time.  He taught me so much about how to see and what was pleasing to the eye. So, at a very young age it was my goal to be a professional artist.

I majored in fine art and received my degree from the University of Miami in Fine Art. Until I was in college, I was not comfortable using color. I was intimidated by how many colors and color combinations there were. Too many possibilities!  So, I chose to work in printmaking because it was more about the process than creation.  The limitations of the process freed me, as strange as that may sound!  I felt that through the process, itself, I could find my creativity. My professors in college taught color theory and I began to enjoy working with color.  

While I raised my family, I worked as a graphic designer and also as an ad designer at the local newspaper.  Later, when I had more time and freedom, I began taking more classes and painting in oil.  I studied with many excellent teachers. I painted with Dennis Aufiery, a wonderful artist and teacher who taught me how to see warm colors in the greens of tropical Florida. By painting from life, I lost my fear of color.  

For the past 18 years I created many triptychs and diptychs of tropical subjects as well as portraits of people and animals. My most successful subject matter has been under water and coral reef life.  My paintings can be seen in hospitals, office buildings, homes and government buildings.

I have found that painting from live subjects is an excellent way to learn to see.  I regularly paint from live models and I also enjoy doing some plein air painting. When you really observe color in nature, you see how color works.  In nature, reflected light always influences how we see the color around us. Color transitions and there is always an “in-between” color that eases the way from one color to the next.

Today painting from life in color is my favorite way of expressing myself!