Nature has exerted a profound influence on Andre's work. She grew up on a farm, and embedded in her memory are the soft texture of fur, the fragrance of flowers, the glossy colors of pheasant feathers. Rather than try to reproduce a photo-like image, Andre prefers the challenge of shaping an idea, figure or aspect of nature in a way that allows multiple interpretations by the viewer.

In her mixed media collages, Andre uses paint, hand-colored papers, found objects and recycled materials in unique ways. "Combining those elements allows me to infuse the work with my imagination rather than trying to paint the perfect rose," explains the artist. Her expert use of color pulls the viewer into the world Andre creates on canvas and paper.

Though she has been drawing since childhood, Emalee Andre began her serious art studies in the 1980's in Chicago with Sandford Roth, a noted abstract artist. She continued to study with top artists and instructors after moving to Florida, and has won many awards there. The lush hues in her Florida surroundings had a major influence on her color work. As a result, her mixed-media canvases are as at home in the sun-drenched Caribbean as they are anywhere in the world.