Artist Statement
“The tactile experience of playing with transparent watercolor, watching the colors blend and move is exciting to me. I often work from my own photographs. First I draw in my sketchbook the parts of the photo that catch my eye. I create value studies to bring out the contrasting lights and darks and then the beautiful shapes emerge. This is the foundation of my work, which is then developed with poured glazes of transparent watercolor washes and masking to save the lighter values. Unique shapes delight my eye and I often let the painting lead me once the piece is started. My desire is to create artwork that is beautiful to look at, that makes people pause and smile. From my humble beginnings as a graphic designer, I have grown to love watercolor as a means of expressing my soul. As our world grows more frightening, I want to keep on exploring, learning and expressing the lovely things in life.”
Biography
Born and raised in Greenville, Michigan, Debbie is the youngest of five siblings. She was greatly influenced and encouraged by her artistic parents and her high school art teacher, Tom Blinn. She is the mother of two grown children and step-mom of three grown children. She worked in graphic design and technical illustration for nearly 25 years.
In February 2004, with children in college and on their own, Debbie transitioned from commercial art to fine art. With encouragement from friends and family Debbie began showing her artwork at street fairs and local galleries. In 2008, Debbie and her husband moved to Melbourne, Florida, where her artwork is growing in style and subject matter.
Debbie’s watercolors blend her passion for painting and her love of nature to capture the fleeting moments of beauty the world provides. Her work is a study of shapes and values translated into brilliant colors.
Since 2005, Debbie has been teaching watercolor painting and conducting workshops. She focuses on technique which helps her students master watercolor and develop their own personal style.
You can find her work currently featured at several venues throughout Florida, including through the Brevard Cultural Alliance. Debbie has been a member of the Michigan Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, The Brevard Watercolor Society, The Florida Watercolor Society, The Southern Watercolor Society, The Georgia Watercolor Society, and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America.
Watercolor Works
Debbie Johnson
Voice: 321-474-3449
http://debbiejohnsonartist.wordpress.com/
www.watercolorgirl.etsy.com
www.edgewaterboutique.etsy.com
dj777@att.net
Private Collections:
Spectrum Health United Memorial Hospital, Greenville, MI
Ferd and Kathy Hampson, Habitat Galleries, Bloomfield, MI
Paul and MarySue Ewing, Franklin, MI
Steve and Donna Gilling, Lapeer, MI
Joe and Toni Grinnan, Franklin, MI
Suzanne Krueger, Beverly Hills, MI
One Person Shows:
November 2005 - Margot’s Gallery & Frame,
5 South Washington St., Oxford, MI 48371
April 2009 - Art & Antique Studio & Fine Art Gallery
1419 Highland Ave., Melbourne, FL 32935
Group Shows:
38th Annual Florida Watercolor Society Exhibition,
September 8 - October 26, 2009 Visual Arts Center (VAC),
210 Maud Street, Punta Gorda, Florida 33950
Michigan Watercolor Society’s 62nd Annual Exhibition,
March 14 - May 10, 2009 Muskegon Museum of Art,
296 West Webster Ave., Muskegon, MI
Michigan Watercolor Society’s 61st Annual Exhibition,
April 6 - July 6, 2008 Ella Sharpe Museum,
3225 4th Street, Jackson, MI
22nd Annual Our Town Exhibition, The Community House,
380 South Bates St., Birmingham, MI
October 18 - 20, 2007
Eight Michigan Artists, Margot’s Gallery, 5 S Washington,
Oxford, MI, Sept 29 - Oct. 20, 2007
Michigan Watercolor Society’s 60th Annual Exhibition,
June 2007, Community Arts Gallery,
Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
3rd Annual Drawing, Painting and Printmaking Competition,
Jan & Gary Dario Gallery, Palm Beach Community College,
Lake Worth, FL, Excellence Award
February 22 - April 26, 2007
58th Annual Juried Exhibition, Texas Watercolor Society,
March 2007, Purchase Award
Lapeer Art Association, “Spring Into Art”. April 2005
Affiliations:
Florida Watercolor Society, Member
Southern Watercolor Society, Member
Michigan Watercolor Society, Member,
Former Board of Directors
National Watercolor Society, Member
Awards:
Merit Award, SPLASH of Watercolor
Brevard Watercolor Society, February 2010
Merchandise Award, 58th Annual Juried Exhibition,
Texas Watercolor Society, March 2007
Excellence Award, 3rd Annual Drawing, Painting
and Printmaking Competition,
Jan & Gary Dario Gallery, Palm Beach Community College,
Lake Worth, FL
February 22 - April 26, 2007
Purchase Award, VMRC Art Exhibition ,
Park Gables Gallery, Harrisonburg, VA,
June 3 - July 1, 2007 - June 15, 2007
