How long have you been an artist? 

I’ve been a practicing artist since 2009.

Who/what are your biggest influences? 

John Singer Sargent, Monet Cezanne, Joan Mitchell, Agnes Martin, William DeKooning, Franz Kline to name a few. I am influenced endlessly by other artists and mentors, especially accomplished painters who create works I find challenging. 

Briefly describe your process for creating a work of art. 

I mix a beautiful black and “activate" the canvas with large gestural strokes. I love the physicality and the faith required in the process. Faith that when there are no external signs to indicate where and how to proceed, I am not lost.

What do you listen to when you work, if anything? 

Classical, Classic Rock, Alternative Rock. I enjoy all types of music when working.

When do you know a piece is finished? 

“A painting is never finished, only abandoned.”   
- Leonardo da Vinci

Abstract painting is open-ended, not quite finished or unfinished. The most difficult part of painting in this genre is to let go of ego and allow the process to materialize naturally its own way. I rely on my intuition to tell me when a painting feels done. Admittedly that intuition is based off of some laws of design and nature.

How has the current shelter-in-place order affected your work? 

I am fortunate to have a space to work at home and a network of supportive artist friends during this difficult time.  

I love to engage my entire body using broad strokes when applying paint to large paintings. The dripping used in most of my work requires a “waterproofed” space. It is more difficult to use some of these techniques in my home studio, but I’m working on it! 

What is the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you. 

I take my art practice seriously. Each piece is important to me. I am very thoughtful and diligent and will go to any depth required to insure that my work reflects all the thought and passion I feel through my process. I am grateful to collectors who choose to give each piece its forever home.

On Quiet Strength

I’ve always been drawn to people who have a presence that demonstrates both strength and humility at the same time. Those that do extraordinary things, but retain a quiet demeanor in their approach to life.  A quiet type of strength. People with quiet strength show that they have been tested, have succeeded and don’t need to share every success. Individuals may have different reasons for manifestations of their strength, but their confidence in their abilities allows them to feel comfortable with their quietness.

Those of us who have been tested have the knowledge that we can be resilient in tough times. During those times I have relied on my faith. I aspire to a humble presence in my art practice, a quiet professionalism supportive of my fellow artists and art galleries.  

“Quiet Strength” is a mixed media abstracted landscape painting that is quiet in palette with a strong underlying structure and presence. The work exemplifies the infinite possibilities that life continuously displays before us as we embark on this adventure through varied and unpredictable terrain. 

 “Quiet Strength” represents this moment in time.

AND JUST FOR FUN…

What’s your favorite color? 

Red. Favorite paint palette: black and white, blues

What's your favorite song? 

In My Life, The Beatles

What’s your favorite movie? 

Too many to choose just one

Who is your favorite author? 

Enjoy all good literature and anything about art. Currently reading Peter London’s, “No More Secondhand Art” and  “Art as Therapy” Alain de Botton and John Armstrong

Where are you going to travel when we safely can? 

The Beach!

As a native of Atlanta, Debbie Ezell has spent a lifetime creating art inspired by the region rich in beauty, culture, and diversity.  While working in education, she dedicated her time creating and illustrating curriculum for individuals recognized as exceptionally gifted and talented. In 2010, she began to turn her attention towards developing a unique “Non Objective Visual Language."

Ezell's current work evokes the natural and the organic through use of oils, acrylics and various tools for mark making to synthesize shape, line and nuanced passages of color. She is influenced by a wide-range of artists, from masters such as Cézanne, Monet, and John Singer Sargent, to contemporary painters like Joan Mitchell, Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, and Agnes Martin. Ezell currently lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia.