The vibrant colors and the hands on techniques give me the freedom to express my love to paint and draw; however, I am pleasantly surprised how challenging painting with pastels really is.
Drawing and painting has always given me a sense of feeling grounded within myself since I was small. My mother could not believe that I drew Mickey Mouse free hand when I was five. I painted my first oil when I was eight and took portrait lessons with pastel pencil at ten. In high school, art was my favorite subject and I always received compliments on my work. Having twins at 19 and having raised three children as a single mom, I was very busy, but painting still was an outlet to center myself and stay healthy mentally and spiritually.
Three years ago, a friend of mine, Valetta Joy Turner from Boulder, was showing her pastel artwork and I fell in love with the creamy softness of the pastel look. She invited me to Jane Friday’s art class in Louisville, CO and luckily I found Jane to be the right teacher for me.
Being around other artists in the Boulder County art community has given me direction and encouragement to show my work locally. I won my first merit award in November 2007 and sold an abstract painting to a gallery in California. I am so excited to be on a personal journey of continual growth in my art, along with, starting a master’s degree in art therapy at the Naropa University in Boulder, CO plus enjoying boating and fishing with my family.
Deborah Nabozny
Longmont, CO
720.260.3859
naboznyd@comcast.net