Her parents were supportive of her artistic endeavors and often took her to art museums and bought her painting supplies. Deb is particularly interested in the art nouveau and art deco styles of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. She said she loves the very sensuous, natural shapes of the anti-industry movement with their vivid, “technicolor” tones.  

     A year-round resident of Chautauqua, NY, Deb first visited the Institution in 1972, when she worked as a dishwasher and lived in the tower of the Anthenaeum Hotel. It was during that summer that her love affair with Chautauqua began. Her fondness for Chautauqua quickly made its way into her paintings and now is the primary subject of her artwork. Deb has donated several pieces on the grounds, including a transom piece in the Anthenaeum, a border in St. Elmo's "Food for Thought" store, four paintings in the post office, and several large murals around the base of the coffee gazebo.

Deb loves to paint scenes of an older Chautauqua, often taking place at the turn of the century.  For accuracy, Deb consults the Archives and old photographs, and talk to older Chautauqans for their recollections. The buildings in her paintings still exist today. However they are depicted differently from their current condition.

In a painting of the Athenaeum, a second tower, which had weighed down the current tower and has since been removed, is included.  A new painting on the gazebo depicts a 1920's winter at Bestor Plaza and includes the older, taller version of the Colonnade building (several fires and reconstructions have since altered the structure's size and appearance), ice skating, as was a past Chautauqua tradition in the Plaza, and excludes the central fountain and statue.

Unable to find a record of the color of the Pier Building, Deb used her imagination by depicting it in bright pastels.  With the vast amount of buildings in both past and present Chautauqua, Deb isn't able to include them all in her paintings.  She said she selects "the ones that call to me."

Deb's folk painting is not limited to Chautauqua landmarks and buildings.  She has put her talents toward other projects, including personalized house portraits, painted tiles and creating elaborate scenes and murals on walls.  "I painted on woman's kitchen to look like Italy," she said, complete with a window painted to be overlooking a vineyard.  She painted someone else's bedroom walls to look as if they had crumbling castle walls.

One of Deb's newest projects is creating iron-on images of her work.  One of her biggest sellers, she said, is a T-shirt with one of her Chautauqua paintings with the phrase "Institutionalized and Loving It" written above.  With her new digital camera and computer she has been inventing new ways to display her work.

She also sells magnets, mosaics, and a variety of painted furniture, clocks and other various items with Chautauqua themes.  Her work is for sale at the CCVA gallery as well as the Hotel Lenhart in Bemus Point.   

Deb has found happiness in Chautauqua and it continues to be an inspiration for her.  "I like to look on the bright side of things," she said, "and this comes out in my paintings."  As a result, Deb's paintings seems to attract a specific type of admirer.  "Optimists like my work," she said.

     For a self-trained artist, Deb appreciates and understands the value of art as a tool for learning, exploration and self-discovery. “You need to enjoy art and let it flow”, she said. “Don’t be so self-critical that you are petrified to fail, because you will fail.” It is only after allowing one self to try new techniques, make mistakes and take chances that one is truly able to learn and improve, she said. Surely it is the attitude that has allowed her to be so eclectic, multi-talented and creative.

     A lot can be learned from Deb and her take on life. Her path was not easy – she took risks for the sake of learning and she constantly tried new things. She is doing exactly what she has always wanted to do, and she is happy. And in keeping with the very first sentence that she spoke as a child, she has definitely gotten what she wanted – paint.