Wendy Kornfield
Watercolor Artist
Wendy Kornfield has always been drawn to creativity – particularly the kind rooted in visual storytelling, where color, composition, and form take the lead. She took every art class her high school had to offer, and when there were no more to take, she enrolled in courses at a nearby college. Later, at the Rhode Island School of Design, she majored in graphic design – a practical decision that offered structure and job security.
Kornfield went on to spend nearly 40 years working as a graphic designer, building a career that became increasingly digital. Over time, she found the long hours in front of a screen and the technical demands of the job left little room for creative exploration. When she retired, she began looking for something more tactile, something rooted in expression rather than execution – though she still takes pride in much of her graphics work, including designing the iconic Baptist Health pineapple.
One day, she signed up for a watercolor class at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. At a moment when she was navigating both retirement and personal loss, the class offered instruction, but also direction. And watercolor, with its movement and unpredictability, gave her a way to connect again with creativity on her own terms. Since then, Kornfield has turned her attention to painting the scenes around her: historic homes, gardens, and the everyday corners of Coral Gables.
Accomplishments
In 2024, Kornfield received the Coral Gables Community Foundation’s Corral & Cathers Art Fund award, which supports local artists who live and work in the city. The grant allowed her to participate in several art fairs, helping her connect with new audiences and share her work more broadly. Her prints and some of her original works can also be found for sale on the Little Local marketplace app.
What She Says
“I left graphic design after nearly 40 years because there wasn’t much creativity left in it,” says Kornfield. “After I retired, I took that watercolor class at Fairchild, and I just fell in love with the medium. In my paintings, I feel like people either connect with the image, or they’ve had that personal experience. I hope that when people look at my paintings, they find something similar – a memory, an emotion. Something personal that comes back to them.”– Amanda Martell
Her original works and prints are available on the Little Local marketplace app, and she regularly updates her website with recent pieces and upcoming events. You can also follow her process and artwork on Instagram @wendykorn.