Deborah Strong

ARTIST’S BIOGRAPHY

Born and raised in Langley, BC, Deborah Strong graduated from secondary school with a Fine Arts award followed by diplomas in Fine Arts and Computer Graphics. After many years working as a professional graphic designer, she now focuses full-time on creating fine art.

From her childhood, animals played a key role in Deborah's life, and the personal connection she makes with them continues to be reflected in her art. She currently works primarily in two media—hand-painted silk and coloured pencil. Her art has been featured in group exhibitions, private galleries, magazines, and art festivals, and she has completed numerous commissioned portraits of dogs, horses and cats.

Hand-in-hand with Deborah’s love of animals is her enjoyment of the outdoors. She has spent untold hours exploring local parks and trails on horseback and on foot with her dog, and also enjoys the simple pleasure of puttering in her own garden. Her love of adventure has taken her hiking on Vancouver Island’s West Coast Trail, long-distance trekking in the United Kingdom, exploring the rain forests of Trinidad, and sailing in the Grenadines. The creatures she meets form the inspiration for her art, as does her own collection of animal companions.

Deborah’s work can be viewed on line at www.catnmousedesigns.com.
See page 2

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

I have a firm belief that artists must have complete and utter passion for their subject. For me, that passion is evoked by the animal world. Depicting the animals with whom I share my life, those I meet in passing, and others I simply admire from afar is what fuels my artistic drive. I am compelled by a need to express the intimate connection I feel for these creatures.

United by one passion, the two sides of my nature are reflected in my diverse choice of art media: hand-painted silk and coloured pencil. My whimsical, playful self shines through when I paint on silk — I embrace lively colours, loose forms and that medium’s somewhat unpredictable nature. When I turn my hand to coloured pencil, my approach is more serious with emphasis on control, precision and fine detail. I find harmony in the diversity of these two media; they enable me to maintain a balanced approach to my art practice.

In all my art-making, my goal is embrace each animal’s character, discover the essence of its nature, capture both the fundamentals and subtleties of its form, and portray the spark of its personality.

 

Young Buck (painting on silk)

Palimino
coloured pencil