Deborah Alavosius
Maker Monday - February 2023
About the Artist
Name: Deborah Alavosius
Medium: painting
Years creating: since 2016
SCAA member: 7 years
Based in: Exeter, RI
Instagram: @artbydla
Click an image to view slideshow
Deborah has been a member here for 7 years now. She has exhibited regularly, winning several awards, and was featured in a Members Invitational in 2019. Her work portrays the beauty of light upon her subjects and transforms everyday scenes into gorgeous works of art. - SCAA
Where are you from, and what do you make?
I have lived nearly my entire life in New England and now share my time between Exeter, RI and Falmouth, MA on Cape Cod. I am an acrylic landscape/seascape painter working in a realistic style.
How long have you been seriously pursuing art?
I took an introductory class in acrylic painting in 2016. I had never painted before and I fell in love. I began teaching myself through YouTube videos, studying artists I liked, reading artist magazines, and taking courses at local art centers.
What inspires you to create?
Both the natural and manmade beauty of New England inspires me. I am drawn to the seasonal changes of New England land and seascapes, and in particular the seasonal changes in light, color, tone, and mood which I strive to convey in my paintings.
Which artist outside of your chosen medium has had the most impact on your art? What do they do and in what way do they influence you?
While not a particular artist, I’d say that learning about classical musicians and how to appreciate their art has had an impact on how I perceive, understand, and create art. While in college I took a music appreciation course that exposed me to classical music for the first time. And even to this day, it has stayed with me that there are stories in music…even with no lyrics, I can hear the stories. I learned that art is often more than what “meets the eye” or comes through the senses; it is what you perceive and make of it yourself (whether as a viewer, reader, or listener). So when I paint a land-/seascape, I am painting the scene as I experienced it in real life, and hope that viewers will get a glimpse into a moment in time I thought was beautiful.
As a member of SCAA, what do you like most about us?
When I first started painting, I took a class with Jen Ferry and at its conclusion, I asked her how I could improve my art. Her advice was critical to my development as a painter. She recommended that I join a local art association and emphasized that it is important for artists to put their art into the world to share with others thereby increasing art awareness and the importance it has in our cultural landscape. So I joined SCAA and found an exceedingly welcoming community who helped me find the confidence to enter my work into juried shows as a new painter. I’ve enjoyed the many juried shows and think the gallery space is gorgeous and that the art is always beautifully presented. The quality of art produced and exhibited within this community never ceases to amaze me. Finally, I’ve found the staff to be very friendly, encouraging, and able to connect with members at a thoughtful level.