Why My Paintings Always Drift Toward Bold Color
Color has a way of telling the truth that words often cannot. For me, the colors I reach for are less about trends or theory and more about instinct, emotion, and identity. Even when I try to soften or lighten a piece, my work naturally drifts toward bold, deep, and saturated hues. It is just who I am as an artist.
I have always been bold and unafraid. I was a theater kid in high school, never a wallflower, never one to shrink away from the spotlight. That personality shows up in my palette. Just as I move through the world loudly and fully, my paintings demand richness and intensity. Light, airy, white paintings, soft watercolors, delicate pastels—I love looking at them, but I cannot paint them. No matter how hard I try, they just aren’t me. My work is a reflection of how I see and experience life: vibrant, layered, and unapologetically present.
Certain hues carry meaning and emotion that guide my work.
In my prophetic pieces, jewel tones frequently emerge. Deep emeralds, sapphires, and amethysts show up as natural extensions of my palette. Bold color amplifies the message of the work, reflects identity, and gives the viewer a foothold in the energy of the piece. It invites pause, reflection, and connection.
The palette I gravitate toward also anchors my identity as a creator. It is not just preference; it is a fingerprint. When someone sees one of my mixed media paintings or oil pastel sketches, the colors themselves are recognizable as mine. They reveal my perspective, my energy, and the way I move through the world.
Even when I attempt to lighten or mute a piece, the deeper, richer tones inevitably emerge. It is not a limitation. It is a signature, a personal map of my creative voice, and a reflection of the life, depth, and intensity I bring to every piece I create.
