Debra Dickson

I have lived most of my life in the beautiful Dandenong ranges, which provides me with endless inspiration for my paintings. Starting with a blank canvas and transforming it into a beautiful piece of art is my passion. My work is mainly in acrylics, focusing on realism, my art is a diverse range of birds, animals, land and seascapes, more recently travel places with interesting architecture. I use mostly traditional processes, I sketch my initial outlines, use horizon lines and disappearing points for perspective, then my paintings are produced using color, shadows, highlights and fine detail, which is done by eye and how I envisage the subject to be.For as long as I can remember, I have always felt the need to create, and as a young teenager I started out with oils and teaching myself with how to paint books. I have been influenced by the old traditional masters striving for realism with a twist of vibrant colour and depth. Today I work mainly in acrylics, using a wide variety of painting mediums and techniques. Each piece is individually created with great care, paying careful attention to fine detail and creating depth with light and shadow.I find beauty in every corner of the world and also in everyday life and especially in nature. If I can create a painting that sparks a memory or emotion, or even of a place you have once been or would like to go, or if it gives you tranquillity or peace, then my goal has been achieved.Over the years I have painted purely for my own satisfaction and kept it privately to myself. In 2002 I decided to enter a section of the royal Melbourne show, my piece won 1st prize and I didn’t feel the need to enter in anything again. I have always painted private commissions for customers by word of mouth, and it is only in the last 12 months that I have decided to show my work both online and via permanent display at Sherbrooke Art gallery. So now here I am, following my passion and sharing it with you.