JOIN ME IN MY DISCOVERIES OF THE BEAUTIES OF THE NATURAL WORLD.
Wednesday night I got back to art class! I did miss it on vacation. Sadly this was the last session for the summer. But it was great to see Christina again and everyone else in the class. I'm hoping to take a class with her at her home studio this fall. But in the meantime she had this wonderful yellow jug and floral arrangement to attempt. I had a great time doing it.
Debbie has loved nature and drawing since early childhood, and spent a lot of time drawing and coloring - mostly animals, and visiting art museums, encouraged by an artistic and nature-loving mother. At age 11 she won an art scholarship of a year’s free lessons at the Montclair Art Museum.
But Debbie veered away from art in her teen years. Her interests lay in more classical drawing, and more representational interpretations, all of which were totally out of vogue, and totally untaught, in those teen years. In her 20s she turned to quilting, and spent many years making quilts, primarily her own original designs.
But she still missed drawing, painting, and the fine arts, and in 2005 began to pursue this passion again. She discovered pastels and finally found an art medium she could love.
From 2005-2011 she continued to take lessons with Master Pastelists – first Alex Piccarillo at the Montclair Art Museum (Life drawing, figurative art) and later with Christina Debarry (still lifes and landscapes) at her home studio. Debbie owes a huge debt of gratitude to both Alex and Christina, to their fine teaching skills and warm personalities.
Debbie is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of New Jersey, and served as their 2nd Vice President and Exhibitions Chair. In 2011 Debbie moved to northeast Florida where she just completed a 2-year term as President of the Art Guild of Orange Park, is a member of the First Coast Plein Air Painters, and also currently serves as the Webmaster of the First Coast Pastel Society , as well as a board member of the St. Johns Audubon chapter.
2 comments:
Hi! I found your blog via Michelle's nature blog. This is a wonderful still-life: nice colors, love the reflection of light on the jug. The composition is well set up, with the jug set to the left instead of dead center.
I live a little to the south of you (if you are in Montclair), in Highland Park.
It looks like you had a great time. The jug looks so round and shiny and I love the depths of colors in the white flowers.
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