Debbë’s creative journey began long before she understood the language of art. As a young child, she found herself drawn toward color, shapes, and expression. What started as playful moments with finger paints and giant markers soon turned into something much more meaningful. One defining memory came from a fun uncle who encouraged her bold imagination. He lifted her two-year-old body to her mother’s closet wall and let her create her very first mural with a big green marker. It was there, on that improvised canvas, that her spirit came alive.
Although that green abstract masterpiece was eventually painted over fifty years later when the home was sold, its imprint remained forever in her artistic soul.
A Gift Recognized, Then Rejected
From an early age, art became a refuge for a quiet and shy child who expressed her emotions through shapes and colors. In second grade, an observant art teacher noticed her unusual ability to see perspective and translate it onto paper, something rare for a child her age. The teacher was so moved by her talent that she called Debbë’s mother to offer free after-school sessions to help further develop her skills, but the offer was denied.
The next day, when the teacher explained that her mother had refused the opportunity, the excitement inside young Debbë collapsed into disappointment. At dinner that evening, she asked her mother why she wasn’t allowed to “learn more fun in art.” Her mother’s response was simple and crushing: You can’t make a living as an artist.
Rather than stopping her, that moment planted a deeper determination in her heart.
A Grandmother’s Quiet Support
Though one door was closed, another quietly opened. Debbë’s grandmother, understanding the child’s innate gift, began secretly bringing home paper, brushes, crayons, and paints. These small acts of love allowed Debbë to continue exploring and strengthening her skills.
With every pencil stroke and every dab of color, she was not just creating art, she was building resilience, identity, and purpose.
Discovering Design: From Florals to Fine Art
By high school, art had taken on an even larger space in her life. After school, she worked at a florist shop, where an entirely new world of creativity unfolded. Her natural artistic ability extended into extravagant floral arrangements and interior plant designs. Her mentor at the shop recognized her potential immediately and supported her dreams in the same quiet way her grandmother once had by sending her to local design school classes despite continued objections from her mother.
These experiences eventually led her to earn a degree in Horticulture. Throughout this time, flowers became one of her greatest sources of inspiration. Watching tiny living plants produce beautiful flowers year after year fascinated her deeply. Their forms, colors, and delicate structures found their way into her artwork, which became increasingly intricate and expressive.
Her floral arrangements soon gained recognition. She frequently placed in the top three at local floral competitions, and clients often sought her custom designs, some even bringing her into their homes to create arrangements that matched their interior décor. Her work found its way into the homes of affluent collectors who admired her exceptional eye for color and form.
Loss, Grief, and a Shift in Direction
Everything changed one afternoon when a tragic car accident took the life of her best friend and coworker. Grief overwhelmed her creative spirit, and the floral design world became too painful to remain in. She stepped away from the field but continued to draw and paint quietly.
Her focus turned toward landscapes and botanical gardens. Birds and flowers, symbols of resilience, renewal, and freedom, became central themes in her work. They reflected her own journey through hardship and her determination to rise above it.
During the following years, she built a long career in the insurance industry while raising two children as a single mother. Even then, she never stopped creating. Wreaths, floral pieces, paintings, and drawings filled her evenings and weekends. Without the financial means for formal art school, she taught herself, fueled by passion and persistence.
A Life-Changing Accident and the Healing Power of Art
Years later, a second life-altering event reshaped her world. During her lunch break, she was involved in a severe car accident that left her with extensive and debilitating injuries. Chronic pain became part of her everyday life, and simple movements required strength and patience.
During this challenging period, art returned to her not just as expression but as healing. She immersed herself in sketching, painting, and participating in Plein Air paint-outs. The peace and beauty of nature offered her comfort, and through each canvas, she rebuilt her sense of purpose.
Art became more than a creative pursuit; it became a path back to herself.
Artistic Style and Today’s Creative Practice
Today, Debbë paints and sketches detailed landscapes, florals, abstract works, and designs for fabric and print. Her palette ranges from bold, vivid colors to muted, gentle tones, depending on the emotional intent of each piece. Nature remains at the heart of her practice, with flowers and birds continuing to symbolize hope, transformation, and freedom.
She also shares her passion with others, teaching both children and adults the joy of watercolor and acrylic painting. Her classes are built on encouragement, curiosity, and the belief that creativity has the power to uplift and restore.
A Life Transformed Through Art
Debbë’s creative journey mirrors the themes found in her artwork: growth, renewal, courage, and beauty emerging from hardship. From a deprived beginning to overcoming profound loss and daily physical pain, she has transformed every challenge into a deeper artistic voice.
For her, creating art is not just a skill but a lifelong force that heals, inspires, and gives purpose. It enables people not only to shine in what they create but also to rise from the depths of difficulty into a fuller, brighter life.
