Artist Open Studios

Debra Gag

Windowhaven Studio

(860) 933-2987

debragag@gmail.com

20 Pompey Hollow Rd
Across from Ashford Town Hall
Ashford, CT 06278

Studio Map & Directions

Artists Open Studio Dates:

Dec. 7, 8

Artist will be demonstrating

Artists Open Studio Dates:

Group Show: Ashford: Old Warrenville Post Office
Show Information: Dec. 7 & 8
20 Pompey Hollow Rd.
Ashford, CT, 06278
SEE MAP

I will be showing with a group of four other artists. I am an oil painter, but we also will have a Watercolorist(Lori Smolin), a Block Print artist(Maggie Kendis), and a Mosaic artist(Debora Aldo) all showing at the Old Warrenville Post Office, a charming historuc building on rte 44 in Ashford with ample parking and handicapped entrance. If you cannot attend, you may contact me ar 860-933-2987 or by emailing me at debragag@gmail.com

Debra retired in 2013 from a happy 33 year career as a Vernon Public Schools Art teacher perfecting the art of teaching and finding time to do her own work durings weeknds and summer vacations. Not yet ready to stop, Debra was hired by Arts Center East to teach Acrylic Painitng classes to both children and adults. She was then recruited by the Kerri Gallery to lead an after school painting program as part of a grant for Middle School children, and then to lead monthly Fine Arts based Kerri UnCorked paint events. Debra Gag has been painting with watercolors and oils for over three decades, but only fully retired from teaching in November of 2016 in order to spend more time in her studio in Ashford, CT. Over the years Debra has been commissioned by several arts organizations to run critinques, do painting deomnstartions, and jury art shows. A founding member and present Chair of the Ashford Arts Council, Debra has been instrumental in planning events, creating high school scholarsips for Art and Music, and creating arts programming for people of all ages in her community. Debra has exhibited and had one-woman shows in several CT galleries, and has fulfilled portait and other commissions for private patrons. Her paintings are in private collections throughout the U.S. Inspired by nature, Debra's favorite quote is attributed to Vincent Van Gogh: "If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere."

Artist Statement:

I reside in the Quiet Corner of Northeastern CT, painting in my home studio called Windowhaven. As a communicator of what inspires me, I try to inspire others. I consider the way light filters though rustling leaves; the moment of stillness and harmony in a forest; the peaceful motion of a golden hay field waving gently in the breeze; the glimpse of a wild creature before it sees me. The farms, fields, streams, skies, stone walls, oceans, coastlines, gardens, forests, meadows, animals, barns; come along with me, sit awhile in my world. There's always some canvas in progress on my easel. The brushes stand there in attention waiting to be lifted and dipped into luscious oil colors. Choosing my image with my heart, I start my painting by blocking in the large shapes, mapping the lights and darks, mixing warm, neutral and cool colors creating a color harmony on my palette. I finally get to enhance my subject with detail adding contrast to lead your eye where I'd like you to go, saving the highlights for last. I stand back to ask myself "does all ring true"? Can I walk through this landscape with my mind? Does something jump out that needs to be altered some way? Can I feel the mood? When all seems fine I finally exhale, and only then paint my signature. Framing is also fun for me. I put a lot of time into using one that will continue the mood and tone of the piece.