And when the family fled to America during the Great Depression, there was little time and less money for painting lessons. While her father slowly set up a congregation in Wynnefield, Paul diligently studied English, graduated from high school, and fell in love with Nathan Paul, one of her father's congregants. When he was sent to Japan during World War II, she took a job in a photo studio, coloring portraits for women to send to their husbands overseas.