Debbie began sewing at age thirteen, making doll clothes for her grandmother’s vintage doll business. She made her own clothing in junior high and high school and even made her and her twin sister’s wedding dresses. After graduating college and getting married, sewing took a backseat to her career and raising two children.
In 2018, Debbie and her husband left their lifelong home in San Diego and moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Eager to find a hobby, Debbie enrolled in quilting and fabric arts classes. After experimenting with different techniques, she fell in love with fabric collage.
Debbie currently sells her fabric collage art at the Carolina Mountain Artists Guild store in downtown Hendersonville, and at Marquee Asheville.
Artist Statement
As a fabric collage artist, I often say that I paint with fabric. My palette consists of a rainbow of cotton batik fabric swatches. And, instead of using a brush, I opt for scissors and a sewing machine. Batik is my fabric of choice because of its vibrant color and natural, organic feel, which lend perfectly to the style of art I love creating. In addition to fabric, I often embellish my art with fabric paint, markers, sequins, and beads.
My intention with each piece is to create art that resembles its subject matter, but doesn’t look too realistic. Instead of exactly replicating a picture, I prefer to create colorful, playful, and somewhat abstract interpretations. So they’re recognizable, but also unexpected and fun.
I enjoy creating animal portraits, both wild and domestic, and art inspired by the beauty of Western North Carolina. But I’m also game for any subject that lends itself to bright, colorful interpretation!
I enjoy expressing my creativity through fabric collage and surprising people with what I can create with a bunch of tiny pieces of fabric and a sewing machine. I love it when someone sees my art and asks, “How did you do that?!”