​Debra had been exposed to the artistic world at a young age. Growing up, her mother Shirley, would devote her time to provide art lessons to Debra and her sisters fully immersing them into a sort of creative dome. After a 39 year teaching career, Debra started focusing on her art. Her favorite subjects to create include: landscapes, birds, portraits of people and pets. Typically she has a variety of creations going at once. After her retirement Deb interned at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts alongside Ken Freed, she used this time to develop her skills with all mediums. She likes the fluidity of oil paint and the easy cleanup of acrylic paint. She now continues her art instruction with Ken at the KIA. Deb credits her Mom as her inspiration and fondly recalled a time, before her mother passed away, the she and her mother had the opportunity to piant together on the pier of Anna Marie Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast - a memory she will cherish always. 

D.Butterfield