About The Artist; Bio, Statement, Awards, Distinctions.

 Deborah Flood

Biography:

 Born in 1962, Mid-Coast Maine, Deborah grew up living on a horse farm. Her life was surrounded by horses, dogs, and art.

 Late 1970’s she accepted commission paintings for locals. Homesteads, Horses, and Dog Portraits.

 1980’s she began to attend sidewalk art festivals. Joined a wildlife woodcarvers’ organization. Co-founded the local Penobscot Bay Carvers and Artists Association.

 Gallery Representation with the Duck Trap Decoys Gallery in Lincolnville, Maine 1988 -2025.

 1990's Art Booth Shows for the next 25 years.

 2006 -2007 Teaching Artist in Residence at the Forest Glen Farm, Searsport, Maine. "How to Draw the Horse".

 2007 Acquired a studio rental at the Waterfall Arts Center in Belfast, Maine.

 2010 Founded an online membership for Equine Artists, The International Equine Artists.

 2011 Representation with "Art Space Gallery", Angel Fire, New Mexico. Gallery Openings at the Angel Fire Art Space Gallery.

 2011 Invited to exhibit, and volunteer, in a group exhibition in the Sedona Arts Center, Sedona, Arizona.

 2013: Solo Exhibit of 40 Watercolors in the International Museum of Art of El Paso, Texas.

 The Museum acquired one large watercolor depicting a Long Horn Bull, owned and bred by Darol Dickenson, for their permanent collection.

2014 International Museum of Art of El Paso Texas, worked with the Museum to put on a Signature Member Exhibit of the International Equine Artists.

 Acquired Signature Membership in the Texas Watercolor Society.

 2021 invited and co-founder to the first Annual Mountain View Americana Art Show and Sale, Dacusville, South Carolina.

 2022 invited to the Second Annual Mountain View Americana Art Show and Sale, Dacusville, South Carolina.

2023 - 2025 Co-Founder and Signature Member of the Cowgirl Artists of America.

Artist Statement:

 I am a palette knife oil painter, and a Watercolorist, who has always used horses in my art. My purpose is to convey the message of joy, beauty, and inclusiveness, with a bit of history. I know horses, from having raised them, as well as riding them, for the first 20 years of my life, and living with art and artists my whole life.

 I am always striving to positively connect with others through my art. Using colors and light, as well as the body language of horses and people, to convey my message and emotions.

 I picked up the palette knife, (when holding a brush while working on watercolors proved to be too much on my hands and wrists) in 2016. From there, I started exploring color mixing and the science of it through two semesters of color theory with a University of Maine Arts Professor. I really enjoy the science of my materials, and how the colors work with one another. And I have found, that working with the palette knife, offers me to lay down color cleaner and easier than with a brush. It allows me to hone my oil painting style with an Impressionistic Realism approach.

 As of late, I have been working on two series of works. The Homesteading Series and the Santa and Draft Horses Series. The latter is a spin off from the Homesteading Series. I am also a bit of a history guru of ‘Homesteading.’ I go out in the field to photograph subjects I will use in my art. And I love exploring this theme in oils. I work to capture the light, the values, the neutrals, the shadows, all while conveying a story of emotion and movement.

Awards:  

2025:

The Horse Parade. Mary Ann Mccuistion Award; Sponsored by the Red River Valley Museum; Vernon, Texas. June- July 2025.

2022:

Mr. Chuck Wood. Professional Watercolor First Place, Runner Up Best In Show, State of Maine Sportsman Show, Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine April 1-3, 2022.

Soaring Through Negativity. Professional Watercolor Second Place, State of Maine Sportsman Show, Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine April 1-3, 2022.

The Awakening. Professional Watercolor Third Place, State of Maine Sportsman Show, Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine April 1 - 3, 2022.

 2021:   

Ancestors. Watercolor Division Honorable Mention, Mountain View Americana Art Show, Dacusville, South Carolina June 10-13, 2021. Judge: Seth Hopkins; Director of the Booth Western Art Museum, Georgia.

2019:

Kodiak Bear; Great Spirit, Master Class First Place, Maine Coast Competition, Northport, Maine May 25, 2019.

Community Luncheon (Red Fox), Master Class Second Place, Maine Coast Competition, Northport, Maine May 25, 2019.

 Kodiak Bear; Great Spirit, Professional Oil Division, First Place, State of Maine Sportsman Show, Augusta, Maine, March 29 - 31, 2019

Moose Study; Professional Oil Division, Second Place, State of Maine Sportsman Show, Augusta, Maine. March 29-31,2019

Four in the Canyon, Professional Oil Division, Honorable Mention, State of Maine Sportsman Show, Augusta, Maine. March 29-31, 2019

Community Luncheon, Fox; Professional Watercolor Division, Honorable Mention, State of Maine Sportsman Show, Augusta, Maine March 29-31, 2019

 2017:

'Til the Rivers Run Still, Watercolor, Master Class , First Place, Maine Coast Competition, Penobscot Bay Carvers and Artists Association. 2017

Where the Dirt Road ends, Watercolor, Master class, Second Place, Maine Coast Competition, PBCAA.

The Keeper of Dreams, Watercolor, Master Class, Second Place, Maine Coast Competition. 2017

In the Heart of the Forest, Watercolor, Master Class, Third Place, Maine Coast Competition, PBCAA. 2017

Monhegan Seagul, Pencil and Colored pencil, Master Class, Third place, Maine Coast Competition, PBCAA. 2017

'Til the Rivers Run Still, Watercolor, Second Place, Augusta Maine, State of Maine Sportsman's Show; Art Show March 31 - April 2, 2017.

Where the Dirt Road Ends, Watercolor, Third Place, Augusta Maine, State of Maine Sportsman's Show; Art show March 31-April 2, 2017.

 2016:

Clearing Skies, Watercolor, Honorable Mention, The Red River Valley Museum 15th Annual International Juried Art Exhibition, Vernon, Texas, June 3- July 17, 2016.

Mother Earth; Painted Turtles, Masters Class Best of Show, First Place, People's Choice Award. PBCAA Maine Coast Competition. 2016

Evening Elk; Master Class Third Place, PBCAA Maine Coast Competition.2016

Black Bear Encounter; Master Class Third Place, PBCAA Maine Coast Competition.2016

 2014:

 Tell me it's ok, Outstanding Water Media, NJEAA, Art of the Horse Exhibit, New Jersey. 2014

Sugar baby, Second Place Watercolor Division, Art At The Classic, Draft Horse Classic, Grass Valley, CA.

 Clearing Skies, Third Place Watercolor Division, Art At The Classic, Draft Horse Classic, Grass Valley, CA.

 2012:

 At the cross roads, Honorable Mention, Contemporary Fine Art International, online Exhibit 2012

Moon shine run First Place, 36th International Bank Art Show and Sale, Raton, NM 2012

Moon shine run Best Of Show, Moreno Valley Arts Council ‘Winter Exhibit’ Angel Fire, NM. 2012

 2011:

The climb ‘President’s Award’ International Museum of Art of El Paso, Texas, Sun Bowl Exhibit 2011

 Knot listening Third Place 35th Annual International Bank Exhibit, Raton, New Mexico. 2011

Rumbles in the sky Judges Award of Merit, Red River Valley Museum Vernon, Texas. 2011

Distinctions:

International Guild of Realism; Elected Associate Member.

American Impressionist Society, Inc. Associate Member.