Artist's Statement

"As a young kid, I recall being pulled out of class and spoken to by teachers for using incorrect colors on assignments. "I'm colorblind," I would say. I have uttered those words so many times: "I'm colorblind." In Advanced Placement (AP) art in high school, painting became frustrating. One of the pieces I am submitting is one I painted while experiencing all that frustration and aggression, and it turned out to be one of my best pieces. The colors were not blending correctly in my mind, and not seeing what I was painting accurately became overwhelming. Painting is fun, but having to avoid certain colors on my palette and where I place specific shades or tones has been frustrating. I mainly paint in colors I can't honestly see, in a world I wish I lived in.

Every time I show friends or family members a new painting, they always ask how I painted it. Frankly, I don't know. My brain understands colors now as an adult, enough to mix them in my brain, and understand the percentages without seeing the colors, so I use that to "see" the colors. Painting is freeing, but the stress of not being able to comprehend the colors I'm putting down can be frustrating from time to time. However, art influences every part of my life. As I transitioned from art to pursue forensic psychology and forensic mental health, painting has never stopped. That dream of having my art on a wall or purchased still looms as a thought. I love art, I love color, and I love painting, despite every challenge it has presented.

Thank you for this opportunity to share my art, and thank you for everything you do as a company supporting others like me to see colors.

My goal is to save up, and after completing my master's, I plan to buy an indoor and outdoor pair of Enchroma glasses, so hopefully, I can see colors one day too!"