Gathering inspiration from the world around her – landscapes, birds and people – Debbie Anderson began painting professionally after the birth of her daughter in 2016. She has always been an artist, right from childhood, and finds huge motivation from her daughter. “I want her to grow up with a strong female role model – a mother who followed her dreams and succeeded.”
Art is a huge part of Debbie’s life, as necessary as breathing: “I am lucky enough to have a partner who believes in me and my talent and supports me while I pursue my love of art. I also need to paint to keep me on the level mentally. Painting regularly is therapeutic for me; if I haven’t painted in a week my family notice a bit of a dip in my mood.” As an emerging artist, Debbie is very proud of the successes and sales she has achieved through ArtEx in Napier and in the Pinehaven Arts and Crafts Fair. Most of her work is through commissions: “I love working with a client to create an artwork with meaning and soul for them. There is no prouder moment that seeing the joy on someone’s face when your artwork is just what they had envisioned or better.”
“After seeing Jenny’s demonstration, I ‘googled’ large flower paintings and eventually came across Birgit O’Connor of California, USA, and her online workshops.
Off I went, starting with her White Flowers online workshop. Later, I bought some of Tauranga artist Susan Harrison Tustain’s DVD’s, and learnt so much about watercolour painting and how to achieve the colours I wanted such as in leaves and skin tones. I watched many more training sessions by Birgit and others on You Tube throughout the nearly two years I have been painting. It is such a great way to learn – just like having a private tutor.
Debbie Anderson
