Since childhood, the observation of color in nature has captivated the Wiley's senses, compelling her to contemplate and recreate it. This intensity of feeling has led to a long and dedicated life as a painter. For many years, she worked as an Impressionist, observing the play of light and color in still lifes and landscapes and analyzing how gestural marks of color could be used to describe objects within the picture. More recently, Wiley has learned to let go of figuration entirely, choosing instead to concentrate on color itself as the foundation for composition.