BARBARA ROMAIN

​Barbara Romain's "Painting a Day" series emerged during a transformative period in her artistic journey, reflecting her resilience and adaptability in the face of vision loss. In the mid-1980s, as her sight began to deteriorate due to a retinal degenerative disease, Romain confronted the challenge of continuing her work as a visual artist. Rather than ceasing her practice, she embraced her changing perception, shifting from realistic depictions to more abstract and conceptual expressions.​

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The "Painting a Day" series was a disciplined endeavor where Romain committed to creating one painting each day over a set period. This practice allowed her to explore the evolving nature of her vision and to document her daily experiences and emotions through art. Each piece in the series served as a visual diary, capturing the nuances of her perception and the world around her.​

In an interview with "A Book Of", Romain discussed how her diminishing sight led her to rely more on imagination and memory, stating, "I had to rely more on imagination and memory... I still had a lot of sight when I did this." This shift in approach is evident in the "Painting a Day" series, where the immediacy and spontaneity of daily creation allowed her to experiment with color, form, and symbolism in new and innovative ways.

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The series not only marks a significant period of personal and artistic growth for Romain but also stands as a testament to her determination to continue creating meaningful art despite physical limitations. It highlights her ability to adapt her techniques and embrace new methods of expression, ensuring that her voice remained vibrant and impactful in the art world.

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