Debb’s Pure Joy

Feedback from Debb Ferris Bates

“If I could not paint…I could not breathe.” Debb Ferris Bates

As long as I can remember, art has been something born into me. My very first day at school we were asked to draw something and I drew a scene with the sun shining in the sky and drew the sun with sunrays not touching the sun. I can remember a student telling me to connect the sunrays to the circle of the sun, and I said “No ! That is not how the sun looks…the rays are away from the sun !” I remember that moment vividly…JUST LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY and knew I would some day be an artist. I was five years old !

When I was in high school , everyone knew me as the gal who loved to draw, and paint , so I would always get out of my French class early to help my art teacher set up her next art class.(IT WAS HER THAT WOULD GET ME OUT EARLY, Mrs.MacDonald ) I had a bond with my art teacher. She told me I was good and should pursue an art education after high school. But unfortunately , I never could afford art school , so instead I worked at a sign shop after high school…loved every minute of it, because I still got to play in paint and couldn’t believe I was being paid to do this artistic type of work.
I have done this for many years and it was not until my Grandmother passed away, that I got back into painting. I painted her portrait. Just the feel of the brush and paint made me realize , this is what I should be doing more of, because it brought me such joy, pure JOY !
So not only would I be honored to win your full membership , I would be for ever grateful to do so. Art is something I can hardly explain…so this is how I do…

My favourite NON-contemporary fine artist is Vermeer and Rembrant. I love Vermeer , for his compisitions,and Rembrant from his artistry with light.

My challenge in painting , I feel is mixing correct colour values. I would love to know how to paint portraits , the traditional way, so mine could have essence.

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