About

Debra lives in Ontario Canada where she is actively involved in the local art scene. She paints with oils and acrylics, and occasionally adds mixed media to her work. She paints what she loves finding inspiration all around her, including her many travel destinations around the world.

Debra attended Brock University and has been teaching French in Southern Ontario schools for 20 years.

She has studied art with many gifted local artists. While at Rodman Hall she took drawing, oil painting and watercolour classes. In recent years, she has traveled to Italy to study plein air painting. She has also taken courses with Flora Bowley and Gwen Fox to refine her skills in abstract painting.

She has exhibited in solo and group shows in Ontario, British Columbia and Italy, was featured in the Port Dalhousie Peer newspaper, and was interviewed for an artist segment with CBC Radio Canada television, as well as CBC Art Circuit in Ottawa.

Exhibitions

2017 Hernders Art Lovers Affair, Feb 9th-12th, St. Catharines ON

Neob Lavender Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake, July 8th & 9th

Carmel Fine Art Festival, Sept 15,16,17, Fireman's Park, Niagara Falls

2016 Millpond Studios, 1552 Regional Rd 81 (StPaul St W) May 27th to May 29th

Neob Lavender Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake, July 9 & 10

                   Art by the Lighthouse, July 30 & 31, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
2015   NAC Small Feats, April 11, St. Catharines, ON
Millpond Studios, 1552 Regional Rd 81 (StPaul St W) May 28 to Sunday May 31
                    Studio Tour & Sale, 409 Vine St, St.Catharines, Nov. 21 &22, 12-5p.m.
2014 The Rainbow Gallery, 80 Front St, Toronto, ON
NAC Small Feats, April 12, St. Catharines ON
Art in the Vineyard, Frogpond Farms, June 21 & 22
Millpond Studios, 1552 Regional Rd 81 (StPaul St W)
Carmel Fine Art and Music Festival, Niagara Falls, Sept 12-14
2013      NAC Small Feats, April 6th, St. Catharines, ON
Art by the Lighthouse, Aug 3&4, 10-5pm, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
The Carmel Fine Art&Music Festival, Niagara Falls,ON, Aug 31& Sept 1.
2012    Christmas Art Show and Sale. Studio Gallery on Vine, St.Catharines, Dec 7th, 8th,9th
NAC Small Feats, April 14th, St. Catharines, ON
                  Frogpond Farm’s 2nd Annual Art in the Vineyard Show, Niagara-on-the Lake, ON
Summerfest, July 19,20,21,22, Peace Park, Fonthill, ON
                  Art by the Lighthouse, Aug 4&5, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

2011 Christmas Art Show and Sale,
Studio Gallery on Vine, St. Catharines, ON, Dec 2,3,4
Mahtay Cafe and Lounge, St. Catharines, ON, Aug 11 -Oct 16th,
Art by the Lighthouge, Niagara-on-the Lake, ON
Small Feats, Niagara Artist Center, St. Catharines, ON
The St. Catharines Club, St. Catharines, ON
Niagara Pumphouse Gallery, Niagara-on-the Lake, ON

2010 Solo: Studio Gallery on Vine, St. Catharines, ON
Solo: Domani Restaurant and Wine Bar, Toronto, ON
Niagara Pumphouse Gallery, Niagara-on-th-Lake, ON
2009      Solo: Studio Gallery on Vine, St.Catharines, ON
2007 Solo: Enigma on 10th, Vancouver, BC
Solo: Saffron Fourth Ave, Vancouver, BC
Solo : Old Oxford Gallery, St. Catharines, ON

Art Education
John Skelcher; The Retreat, Italy, Landscape painting
Gwen Fox; Abstract painting
Flora Bowley; Abstract painting
Rodman Hall; Drawing, Oil painting, and Watercolour
Niagara College; Black and white photography, and darkroom developing
Mary Lampman; Palette knife technique
Alice Hood Studio; Colour mixing and oil painting

Publications

The Port Dalhousie Peer Newspaper, St. Catharines, ON
CBC Radio Canada, television artist segment, Toronto, ON
CBC Art Circuit , Ottawa, ON

Exploring and trying new techniques in art usually leads me to creative paths of interests and joy. I paint bold and colourful images from photographs, real life, or my imagination. I enjoy both oil and acrylic mediums, and will vary the sizes of my canvases depending on the vision that I have for my creations.

Everything is of interest to me which is why there is a variety of subject matter in my art. I stylize my canvases with rich colours and texture for a realistic or abstract effect: the composition provides a sense of energy and balance to the artwork.

Everything you can imagine is real.

Pablo Picasso

Artist Statement