Debbie Harding Artist BIO

Debbie Harding Pastels and Oil Paintings

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CV/Bio

Debbie Harding Photo

My road to the art world is less filled with art education and classes, than it is of a journey of inspiration, encouragement and a love for the beauty of God’s creation.

I began my art experience in my childhood. I have always loved to create, and was encouraged, especially by my parents, to engage in creative activities. They encouraged my love of art, by seeing their own interest and excitement in nature and beauty. We spent many happy hours together taking road trips, collecting things from nature, and enjoying arts and crafts of many forms. My mother gave me confidence by displaying some of my works, not in the typical “kid art gallery,” that so many households have, but prominently throughout our house, amongst all of her beautiful furnishings. I was so proud to have my bas-relief, paper-maché tiles hanging in a very visible spot above our organ, or to have my painting of the antique water pump, which I painted on a rustic piece of wood, hanging amongst her other wall art. Both of these pieces I did when I was about eleven years old. One of my favorite projects was the above-ground swimming pool that we painted black (so it would absorb heat from the sun - my father was into alternate sources of energy even then), on which we painted whimsical, colorful, undersea creatures, standing out beautifully against the black background. Again, maybe I was about ten years old at that time, but was given the opportunity to showcase by ability on what was, to me, a very worthwhile project.

My first class experience was in high school, where I took one painting class. It was a very non-structured learning experience, where we were encouraged to create whatever moved us.

Canning Cupboard Oil Painting circa 1979

The instructor taught me, what he called “oil reduction,” and I painted about half a dozen paintings while in that class. (The painting to the right, titled "Canning Cupboard," is in this oil reduction technique. It was my last painting, circa 1978, before I took the long detour that I mention below.) I really enjoyed painting, though, and felt it would be some part of my future, but my interest in psychology was moving me toward other choices in college.

Then, all sorts of life experiences seemed to crowd my art to the side. I went to college, got married, eventually earned an M.A. in psychology, had two children, chose to stay home to raise our boys, home-schooled for ten years, and bought Belden House, a residential home for brain-injured adults. The next thing I know, it’s 25-30 years since the last painting I did at the age of twenty.

My creative, artisitic side was still there, however, and it was thanks, in part, to our friends, Gwen and Bill Griffin, that I was given an opportunity for this side of my self to emerge and grow. Gwen had been oil painting, and I felt so compelled by her work, that I wondered if I could possibly do the same. Then, one year for my birthday, they gave me a gift certificate for 4 painting lessons from a local artist. That’s all it took, and I was hooked.

I painted about 12 oil paintings, dabbled a bit with watercolor, but have spent most of my time and energy using pastels. I am finding that I am particularly drawn to pastels. I enjoy the intensity, and immediacy of color and the way that the medium pushes me to be more painterly in my style. I am doing less and less blending of colors with tools or my fingers, and am just trying to layer the colors, allowing for the underlying layers to add dimension and depth. Of the three mediums that I have tried so far, pastels by far, seem to keep drawing me back. I am, in fact, beginning to think of myself as a pastelist.

I do enjoy trying new things, however, and anticipate that there will be other wonderful mediums and techniques to try, as I am introduced to them via other artists, trips to the art store (candy store!); and being mostly self-taught, via reading material, and online sources.

I would love to have you join me on my journey. One way you can do this is to click on the link at the lower left corner of any page. This way you will be sent an email reminder every time I add a new piece to my website.

Debbie

The Journey Goes On...

Study:

c. 2000, Oil Portrait Workshop; Stephen Sawyer

2010, Oil Painting Workshop; Gary Holland

Memberships:

Pastel Society of the West Coast, 2010

Roseville Arts!, 2010

The "Artists' Round Table" in Santa Rosa, California, 2009 to present

Website Memberships:

Artspan.com

Meetup.com (North Bay Art Fair)