My Journey

Deborah was born in Downers Grove, IL, and spent her formative years in a household that nurtured her budding creativity. Her mother, inherently creative, would often engage Deborah in crafting Halloween costumes, macrame, embroidery, and batik embedding the seeds of artistry early on. High school saw Deborah's artistic inclinations flourish under the guidance of the Chairman of the Art Department, where she avidly enrolled in as many art classes as her schedule permitted. It was during these pivotal years that she realized her aspirations of pursuing art.

 

Despite her passion, Deborah opted for practicality when it came time for college, choosing a career in accounting over interior design. She became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), prioritizing a secure professional path. Nevertheless, artistry was never far from her mind. Over the years, she balanced her career and family life, raising two beloved sons.

 

It was only upon retirement that Deborah fully returned to her artistic roots, rediscovering the joy of creating. Color, line, and movement are pivotal elements in her work, but recently, she has been deeply inspired by the beauty of nature, especially flora. This thematic shift infused her work with a renewed sense of purpose and direction.

 

Deborah’s creative process is richly immersive, often accompanied by music. She begins most pieces with acrylic paint pens, sketching out lines before layering with watercolor washes. Splattering paint and experimenting with various textures such as salt and saran wrap have become signature techniques. Her abstract compositions initially featured dandelions, a nod to childhood whimsy and personal symbolism – she even sports a tattoo of a dandelion transforming into birds, symbolizing her sons' independence.

 

Deborah’s method evolved from strict abstraction to incorporating florals after noticing a deeper connection with audiences. Abstract florals became her forte, particularly as she found people responding more to these pieces. She experiments continually, from textures like molding paste to unique pigmentation techniques; her use of salt with indigo yields striking backgrounds. She believes her work’s uniqueness lies in these watercolor abstracts, an uncommon medium for abstract art that typically favors acrylics.

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Major influences punctuate Deborah's journey. Artists like Wassily Kandinsky and Georgia O'Keeffe inform her style, blending abstraction with floral motifs. The former’s resonances were first pointed out by Jenny Bullard, an acrylic abstract artist, while fellow artist Peter Freischlag’s mastery in watercolor and an innovative watercolor finishing technique without glass has emboldened Deborah. Her former art teacher, Daniel Modzelewski, and the supportive Professor Scott Rispin also play pivotal roles in her development.

 

Deborah's work has garnered attention, with feature spots in Colorado Art Weekend videos being among the highlights. She remains active on the exhibition circuit, with nine art shows lined up in Colorado this summer. Her aspiration is ultimately getting her work into a gallery within the next five years.

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Beyond art, Deborah enjoys tennis, knitting, and reading. Recently, she has taken to photography, another medium to capture inspiration for her paintings. Her goals reflect a commitment to evolving her florals and exploring new subject matters, continually pushing the boundaries of her art.

 

In Deborah's worldview, art is a vital component of society, reflecting and shaping culture. Her work, unique in its vibrancy and texture, is a testament to her enduring quest for connection and expression. As she advances, she strives to both delight and challenge the viewer, inviting them into her world of abstract beauty and natural wonder.