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Deborah Sprague

Artist's Interview

How long have you been creating?: I've been dabbling in many art forms since I was a teenager. So I'll say about 25 years - so no you know my age too!

What is your medium of choice?: WOW, thats a hard one because I work in so many different mediums and LOVE them all. I work with glass fusing, lampworking glass,making handmade papers, collage, altered art, clay, and painting with oils, watercolors and acrylics. I would have to say my most favorite medium is glass because it is so exciting when you open that kiln the next morning. You just never know what your going to end up with. I LOVE the hunt for materials in Collage, altered art and assemblage. So that is one of my favorites too. But I also Love oil painting because capturing a moment in time on canvas is just so magical! Its hard to say what is my favorite!

What are your motivations for creating?: Every day I wake up and get out of bed is a motivation to either get in the studio and create or go for a hike with my paints and camera and paint! There is not too many days that go by that I am not either preparing to create or actually knee deep in the creation process. Many times I have several projects going at once.

What other artists and movements inform your work?: I Absolutely LOVE Steve Hanks paintings and how he captures the spirit and moments of Life and the love that shines through. Sharon Engel my mother who also is a professional artist and although our styles are completely different she has great influence on how I feel and create.

What do you find stimulating right now? How does this influence your creative process?: People and children the way the sun and shadows play on the skin. Landscapes too are very stimulating to me right now. Capturing the light and darks to create a atmosphere in color.

Read anything good lately?: Read, I dont have time to read! I wish I could sit down and read a book from cover to cover but I tend to get side tracked with projects and ideas that I need to return to the studio to do! I LOVE art books though and have a huge collection at least 100 books of various artists that I look to for inspiration.

While your subject matter is diverse, I see quite of bit of religious work sprinkled in. What keeps bringing you back to this subject matter?: The emotions and the feelings of peace and tranquility. Capturing the strength, spirit and love in an artwork is very fulfilling to me. God created the beauty first and my interpretations of those surroundings and what I make of them is Art.

What would you like your fellow EBSQ artists and collectors to know about you and or your work?: I'm constantly inspired by my family and friends and the beautiful area in which I live. Surrounded by the many hiking trails, lakes rivers and mountain ranges in Bend Oregon the possibilities for an artist are endless. My studio sits on the banks of the beautiful Deschutes river and just looking out the window gets my creative juices flowing. Just a few hours away is the Pacific ocean with the beautiful sandy beaches and more inspiration! I do not limit my art to just one medium and am constantly experimenting and pushing the limits with my creativity. With the glass and clay I have a freedom that I unleash that adds to my creative process in painting. Color, texture and capturing an emotion are the three key ingredients to my work. I want to spark a memory or fill your soul with a smile!...