About Colleen

Colleen was born in Lincoln, ME.  After graduating from Bangor High School (Bangor, ME) ,she earned a B.S. at Northeastern University (Boston, MA) and a Master's from Brandeis University  (Waltham, MA).  She has studied as a post-graduate adjunct at Emory University’s School of Public Health in Child and Maternal Health (Atlanta, GA) and has received scholastic art training at the Atlanta College of Art (watercolor) and the Maine College of Art (photography, watercolor and Chinese ink painting). Her professional and volunteer careers include the healthcare delivery and insurance industry, Girl Scouts of the USA (Georgia and Maine), Planned Parenthood of Greater Atlanta, Community Services Advisory Commission of Cape Elizabeth, ME,  the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA.  and as a member serving on the Executive Board of the Portland Camera Club. Additionally, she and other resident artists from Cape Elizabeth created a supportive colony eponymously entitled “Open Studio at Cape” . She spent 3 years working as a professional newborn and family photographer for Bella Baby Photography.

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World travel has continued to be an important part of her life-long education. Looking at life from the perspective of other cultures and histories has  informed her artistic vision and challenged her imagination. Her love of color and the emotional reactions it provokes in the viewer are a signature of all her photographs, paintings, and drawings.  Dramatic light values and a sense of movement are also key elements to her style. Married to Gregory Graves for over 4 decades, they have an adult  daughter, and 2 grandchildren  She also shares her life with 3 dogs and 1 cat.