As far as my artist "abilities" are concerned I am a self-confessed "late bloomer". I really didn't think that I had the ability to be an artist until I was introduced to the studio during college. I had always worked in electronics and had tired of the "factory" atmosphere and so decided to get a degree in Engineering, or a related field. I needed an elective to fill my schedule one semester so I signed up for an art intro course. The moment I walked into the studio and smelled the turpentine I was hooked. And I have never regretted it for a moment.

"Artists can no more speak about their work, than plants can speak about horticulture." --Jean Cocteau

The way I approach a certain subject matter is to think in terms of a series rather than one individual piece. I will paint three or more versions of the same object or about the same subject until I find "the one" that works for me. I usually have at least two or three pieces in progress at any one time. I find that working like this helps my thought process and keeps me from becoming blocked. I will work on one composition until I reach a certain point and then I move on to the next one, and then back to the first or on to a third, and so forth.

--Deborah Hunter

To me, art is more than just painting puppy dogs, flowers and kittens. It's more than just painting a pretty picture. Art, for me, is exploring thought, ideas and emotion...art is the story that needs to be told.

I usually begin a body of work with an overall concept and a variety of sketches. I enjoy the challenge of taking common subject matter and seeing how it can be presented in a new and interesting way, either by altering the perspective or through color. Some of these ideas are worked out in the sketches, but it is on the canvas that concept begins to truly take shape. The painting process is very active and intense with constant movement. A great deal of my artwork is mixed-media, as I thrive on experimentation through exploring different techniques and materials. I do this by using different mediums just to see how they behave, and I am almost always thrilled with the results.