Biography - Deb Kaylor
Deb has come a long way since she first began doing “cow portraits” as a child on her grandparents’ dairy farm in Michigan. After a long detour through teaching, raising a family and the corporate world, she has finally come back to her first love. In 2004, she began studying at the Art Students League of Denver. And as of September 2007, she took that giant leap of faith and has been able to do what she is wired to do…to paint full time! It has been a “wild ride” filled with fun, success and reward!
Deb considers herself a representational painter with a contemporary bent. However, she’ll be the first to tell you that her painting must be more than a good likeness or honest representation. It must tell a story and create a mood. She doesn’t have a gimmick or mass produce work. Rather each painting is an exercise melding together a pleasing composition, color harmony and shapes, lines, and patterns. “Each painting is an adventure and I’m never sure of the outcome,” she says. “That’s the fun of it.” Each painting is a careful choice of subject matter and is painted over many times in her mind before a paint brush is ever put to the canvas. But there is always that element of the painting taking on a life of its own. Working in oils and pastels, Deb’s subject matter ranges from landscapes to portraiture. What is most recognizable is her figurative work or what she calls her “peoplescapes.” These are landscapes, cityscapes, and interiors where figures are of key importance. Deb’s paintings represent ordinary themes. They are all either from her “backyard” or trails she walks or places that she has enjoyed with family and friends. They are universal and meant to convey the enjoyment and appreciation of life…either by observation or participation.
Deb lives with her husband in Aurora, Colorado where she paints in her home studio. She is a member of the Oil Painters of America, the Pastel Society of America, and a signature member of the Pastel Society of Colorado. Deb has been juried into many national shows and has won numerous awards. Her work has recently been featured in the May 2010 issue of American Art Collector Magazine. She is active in the Art Students League of Denver where she still continues to enjoy the camaraderie of her fellow teachers and students. Her art can be found in many corporate and private collections throughout the U.S. She is currently represented by Giacobbe-Fritz Fine Art in Santa Fe.