Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Air Force Tech. Sgt. Juan Hernandez, 731st Air Mobility Squadron air terminal operations center senior information controller, shows some of his artwork on Osan Air Base, South Korea, Dec. 3, 2015. Hernandez is partially colorblind, so he taught himself to identify multiple shades of colors using their assigned numbers. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristin HighColorblind Airman overcomes hurdles to succeed as artist
                        
                        
                        Tech. Sgt. Juan Hernandez, a 731st Air Mobility Squadron air terminal operations center senior information controller, shows some of his artwork on Osan Air Base, South Korea, Dec. 3, 2015. Hernandez is partially colorblind, so he taught himself to identify multiple shades of colors using their assigned numbers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kristin High)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Air Force Tech. Sgt. Juan Hernandez, 731st Air Mobility Squadron air terminal operations center senior information controller, looks through his sketch book on Osan Air Base, South Korea, Dec. 3, 2015. Hernandez learned early on that he could not see many colors on the electromagnetic spectrum, but he still became a self-taught artist. U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Senior Airman Kristin HighColorblind Airman overcomes hurdles to succeed as artist
                        
                        
                        Tech. Sgt. Juan Hernandez, a 731st Air Mobility Squadron air terminal operations center senior information controller, looks through his sketch book on Osan Air Base, South Korea, Dec. 3, 2015. Hernandez learned early on that he could not see many colors on the electromagnetic spectrum, but he still became a self-taught artist. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Senior Airman Kristin High)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Air Force Tech. Sgt. Juan Hernandez, 731st Air Mobility Squadron air terminal operations center senior information controller, describes the color identification system he uses to compensate for his colorblindness on Osan Air Base, South Korea, Dec. 3, 2015. “I would have to ask people, if I was drawing a comic book character, what colors to use for each area,” he said. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristin HighColorblind Airman overcomes hurdles to succeed as artist
                        
                        
                        Tech. Sgt. Juan Hernandez, a 731st Air Mobility Squadron air terminal operations center senior information controller, describes the color identification system he uses to compensate for his colorblindness on Osan Air Base, South Korea, Dec. 3, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kristin High)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Colorblind Airman overcomes hurdles to succeed as artistPublished Dec. 15, 2015
                    
                    By Senior Airman Kristin High
                    
                    
                    51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
            **OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) --***(This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series. These stories focus on individual Airmen, highlighting their Air Force story.)*
Ludwig van Beethoven once said, "Don't only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets; art deserves that, for it and knowledge can raise man to the divine." In other words, he might've said limitations shouldn't impede success.
That's something one Airman at Osan Air Base understands. Tech. Sgt. Juan Hernandez, a 731st Air Mobility Squadron air terminal operations center senior information controller, is colorblind. He's also a self-taught visual artist.
Hernandez said he's been drawing "literally as long as I can remember. I specifically remember when I was 4, I painted a wolf sitting on a log, looking at a cabin with three pigs poking their heads out," he said. “My mom left it on the bathroom wall and we had it there the entire time we lived in the house."**Numbers for colors**
Hernandez said he learned very early that he wasn’t like most children and never would be.
“I remember being in school; the teacher was showing us a red and a green light, but I wasn’t interpreting anything correctly,” he said. “We conducted a test and quickly learned that I was indeed colorblind -- not completely but enough to make everything challenging growing up.”
He said he still created art regularly, but it took time to learn the colors. “I would have to ask people, if I was drawing a comic book character, what colors to use for each area,” he said.
Hernandez said he learned to read colors by the labels or numbers embedded on each pencil and marker, and over time, he eventually memorized them and saw his accuracy improve.
“It doesn’t affect my job, but it does make being an artist difficult,” he said. “I feel like everyone else has an advantage over me because they can make their work look more realistic and create gradients that I have such a hard time putting together. People never notice, but I always feel like I can do better.”**Colorful self-expression**
To cope with his own difficulties, Hernandez said he found other outlets to show his vibrant personality.
“I randomly dress up as (a superhero) and visit children’s hospitals,” he said. “It gives me a great sense of purpose to see the children’s faces when I walk into the room, in-turn, filling a void I think I’ve been missing all these years."
Those alternate expressions, he said, also inspire his art. "I put a lot of passion and emotion into my art, and if you pay attention to the details, you can see various elements of intelligence, formulas, different languages and cultural symbols," he said. "It’s all very abstract.”
He added that his favorite piece is a self-portrait in his superhero costume. “I love the portrait because it reminds me of why I started wearing the costume,” Hernandez said. “I feel like I have to. It’s my way of giving back.”TAE 



Osan AB 



South Korea 



artist

Related Links
        More "Through Airmen's Eyes" stories Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF Kendall visits Bangor ANG Base
                    
                    Vice President Harris congratulates USAFA Class of ‘24
                    
                    Senate confirms Melissa Dalton as next Under Secretary of the Air Force
                    
                    ‘One Team, One Fight’: SecAF visits Keesler AFB
                    
                    SecAF Kendall experiences VISTA of future flight test at Edwards AFBInnovation
                AFSFC reaches final phase of fielding Model Defender gear
                    
                    Around the Air Force: PCS Allowances, Air Task Forces, All-Volunteer Force
                    
                    AFIMSC focuses I-WEPTAC topics on GPC solutions
                    
                    Optimizing AI, Air University hosts Artificial Intelligence Symposium
                    
                    AFIMSC tools deliver data-driven solutions across DAFMAJCOM News
                AFMC to expand AcqDemo workforce
                    
                    AFMC empowers small businesses for Air Force reoptimization
                    
                    Acquisition Instructor Course Class 25A open for nominations
                    
                    Air Guard leaders host 2024 Wing Leader Conference
                    
                    Referral bonuses aim to help fill mission-critical vacancies
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil