Deborah Simms

I am Deborah Simms, an artist based in Fenton, Michigan. I have been honing my painting skills for the past several years. Originally working in oil paint and portraiture, I have blended my love of family, travel, and bold color in acrylic landscapes and florals. I am inspired by nature, and great artists from history, Vermeer, and Sargent at the top of that list. I was teaching middle school art when upon visiting my son in Scotland I was given the opportunity to see Sargent's Lady Agnew, the size of the painting and the color and texture and pattern ignited in me the desire to paint again.

Bold Color, Movement, and a bit of whimsy is the basis of my work. I paint out of gratitude and try to capture real occurring moments in nature. I love that nature is not symmetrical, perfectly shaped, or predictable. I have been known to merge two different locations together as in the painting Carlsbad/Bulman, depicting the rocky coast of Ireland with the edgy foothills of California.

My evolution from graphic artist in the years after college also influence my work. Contrast, bold shapes, and hard edges or outlines define my work. Acrylics lend themselves beautifully to my approach to the canvas.

My education includes the study of Fine Art at Mott College, Interior Design at Baker College, Art Education with a degree in Applied Sciences. Also, a bachelor's degree in Art Education from the University of Michigan-Flint, and the studies of Art in a Masters degree program at Kendall College of Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan. I have taught classes at Flint Institute of Art and at the Middle school level (15 years).

Highlights of my Art career include a portrait painting used as marketing for the Greater Flint Arts Council student show in the Flint Journal. Winning an award for best in show at the Tawas Bay area artist's exhibit and displaying one of my landscape paintings at Flint Institute of Arts with the image being used as the cover for an FIA catalogue.