Join us Friday, Sept 2nd (4-7 PM) to help celebrate the wonderful artwork of Debra J. Holladay & Brenda Gibson.
Debra, a native Californian, began her art career at age two with her Mother's red lipstick as her medium and her cooperative dogs belly as her canvas! Following her natural talent, she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Advertising Design then moved to New York City, where she lived for six years. During her time in N.Y., Debra studied portrait and figure painting at the Art Student's League of New York with Hilary H. Holmes. She also studied en plein air with Curlis Hansen for three summers, in Central park. In 1996, Debra brought her enthusiasm and solid foundation back home to southern California, where she continued to pursue her love of painting. Debra is a member of the California Art Club, a founding member of Studio2310, and a charter member of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Her preferred medium is oil on linen canvas or board, yet she enjoys other media such as acrylics, watercolor, ink & linoleum block printing. This will be Debra's fourth year participating in our First Friday Events and we are very proud to have her back!
Brenda's interest in traditional art began at a very young age with a gift of a paint-by-number oil painting kit, from her grandmother, on her twelfth birthday. It was a gift that changed her life. At the acclaimed "California Art Institute", Brenda dedicated two years of intensive study to Fine Art "life" drawing and painting. Honing her skills by learning the fundamentals of design, values, edges, light and the art of the human form. She currently continues her quest for knowledge at the Los Angeles academy of Figurative Arts. Brenda's paintings evoke the emotion of classic old world masters, with her soft, subtle palette and quiet mood. As an award winning artist, Brenda recently added a "First Place" at Scottsdale's Artist School as "Best and Brightest" juried Art show in February 2012. Brenda lives full time in Lake Arrowhead and we are honored to have her join us again as a featured First Friday Artist.
