A 'symbol of freedom': this artist and gallery owner thrives in Arizona after a remarkable journey to the United States.(Artist PROFILE ANDREA DE KERPELY-ZAK)(Biography)

When Andrea de Kerpely-Zak spoke over the phone to a reporter, Arizona's perfect blue sky was hidden behind a storm of grey.

"I'm more for light and happiness," de Kerpely-Zak says. "But the storm also has a beauty, it's a different color, but it's beautiful. The clouds are rolling, which you never see here."

The Arizona-based artist is a lover of light. Her artwork is the product of the light and emotion of a particular moment of the day. She paints fast and occasionally works on two or three paintings at one time, sometimes only using one brush. Most of her works are done in acrylics, but she uses a lot of water in them for effect, which results in a watercolor appearance. Because "nothing is finished in life," this well-traveled artist doesn't fill in every spot on the canvas.

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FINDING ART AMID TRAVELS

Born in Hungary, de Kerpely-Zak, 67, had art in her life from an early age. From 6 years old she was tutored in art, music and sports. Her mother, a professor, would always send her to extracurricular art classes where she experimented …