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| Deborah Ankrom Kepes News |
| Copyright 2006, Artworks, scans, and web design Deborah Ankrom Kepes. All rights reserved |
| The Portrait Society of Atlanta Folio, Spring 2008 Vol. 28 No. 2 Pages 8, 9 By Cindi Rawlins |
"The painter allows time to stop for a brief moment...and yet the
image remains forever." --Deborah Ankrom Kepes
image remains forever." --Deborah Ankrom Kepes
| Member Spotlight |
Deborah Kepes was the youngest of five
daughters in a blue collar family in the steel
producing small town of Weirton, West
Virginia. Color and drawing brought her a
world of imagination. At 17, inspired and
encouraged by classroom teachers, her
first art project came when she was asked
to create a 10' x 40' indoor mural for her
city community center. A spark was lit
which would re-ignite years later.
daughters in a blue collar family in the steel
producing small town of Weirton, West
Virginia. Color and drawing brought her a
world of imagination. At 17, inspired and
encouraged by classroom teachers, her
first art project came when she was asked
to create a 10' x 40' indoor mural for her
city community center. A spark was lit
which would re-ignite years later.
In 1993, that spark flamed once
again when this stay at home mom
began her own mural business, Wall
Creations. Her work flourished in WV,
OH and PA within the interior design
community. Her murals were sought
after by businesses, hospitals and
private collectors. Kepes' work was
highlighted in television and news
features throughout the tri-state area.
Nearby, the Pittsburgh Center for the
Arts provided classroom instruction by
professors of drawing & painting from
the prestigious Carnegie Mellon
University. Kepes was privileged to
study drawing, color theory, painting
from life, art appreciation and art
history from these instructors. She
credits much of her knowledge to the
five year instruction she received from
mentor James Douglas Adams who
provided excellent training and
encouragement.
In 1996, the student became an
instructor when she was invited to
teach drawing and mural painting at
the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. She
would later also teach portraiture at
the Center and even today returns to
give workshops. Kepes and her family
re-located to Atlanta in 1998 and she
soon became involved with the
venerable Portrait Society of Atlanta,
holding several positions throughout
the past ten years. In 2000, she
began teaching at the
community-based South Gwinnett High
School, where her classes had a
per-registration waiting list. In 2002,
she was honored with the Teacher of
the Year award. When asked about
the legacy she would like to leave as
an artist, she said, "Teaching, I would
love to think that I have made a
positive difference in the knowledge of
my students."
again when this stay at home mom
began her own mural business, Wall
Creations. Her work flourished in WV,
OH and PA within the interior design
community. Her murals were sought
after by businesses, hospitals and
private collectors. Kepes' work was
highlighted in television and news
features throughout the tri-state area.
Nearby, the Pittsburgh Center for the
Arts provided classroom instruction by
professors of drawing & painting from
the prestigious Carnegie Mellon
University. Kepes was privileged to
study drawing, color theory, painting
from life, art appreciation and art
history from these instructors. She
credits much of her knowledge to the
five year instruction she received from
mentor James Douglas Adams who
provided excellent training and
encouragement.
In 1996, the student became an
instructor when she was invited to
teach drawing and mural painting at
the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. She
would later also teach portraiture at
the Center and even today returns to
give workshops. Kepes and her family
re-located to Atlanta in 1998 and she
soon became involved with the
venerable Portrait Society of Atlanta,
holding several positions throughout
the past ten years. In 2000, she
began teaching at the
community-based South Gwinnett High
School, where her classes had a
per-registration waiting list. In 2002,
she was honored with the Teacher of
the Year award. When asked about
the legacy she would like to leave as
an artist, she said, "Teaching, I would
love to think that I have made a
positive difference in the knowledge of
my students."
The following year, Kepes began
offering semi-private classes in her
home/studio which she continues to
the present, along with annual
workshops and art field trips. Elizabeth
Morris, who began her art studies with
Kepes in 2002, recently graduated
from the University of Georgia with a
BFA and continues to study with her.
Elizabeth says of Kepes, "She goes
the extra mile to ensure that her
students develop skills that will
enhance their abilities. She doesn't
hesitate to share her knowledge. My
artwork has improved greatly under
her instruction and guidance."
A favorite quote for Kepes about the
teaching and learning of art comes
from Leonardo Da Vinci, "The painter
ought first to exercise his hand by
copying drawings by good masters;
and having acquired this facility under
the advice of his instructor, he ought to
set himself to copy good relief's
following the rules given."
In 2004, the Portrait Society of
America asked Kepes to serve as the
Georgia Goodwill Ambassador. In this
capacity, she is a liaison between the
Georgia PSOA membership and the
national office. She has helped
organize several opportunities,
including "A Day at the High", and a
Portrait Academy with Thomas Nash.
She is currently creating a website for
the Georgia PSOA members. She has
been the recipient of the Ambassador
Certificate of Achievement Award in
the Ambassador Program for the past
three years for exceptional work done
as a State Ambassador. In 2007, she
was a scholarship recipient in the
Cecilia Beaux Mentoring Program
which has further enriched her role as
a professional in the arts Mr. Calvin
Goodman, author of many books and
articles on Art Marketing, gives his time
and attention to the four recipients to
counsel them each month on the
progress of their careers. Kepes
relates that Goodman's advice has
been extremely valuable to many
successful artist, including two who
have inspired her, Gordon Wetmore,
Chairman of the Portrait Society of
America, and the Portrait Society of
Atlanta's own Georgia-based Carol
Baxter Kirby.
offering semi-private classes in her
home/studio which she continues to
the present, along with annual
workshops and art field trips. Elizabeth
Morris, who began her art studies with
Kepes in 2002, recently graduated
from the University of Georgia with a
BFA and continues to study with her.
Elizabeth says of Kepes, "She goes
the extra mile to ensure that her
students develop skills that will
enhance their abilities. She doesn't
hesitate to share her knowledge. My
artwork has improved greatly under
her instruction and guidance."
A favorite quote for Kepes about the
teaching and learning of art comes
from Leonardo Da Vinci, "The painter
ought first to exercise his hand by
copying drawings by good masters;
and having acquired this facility under
the advice of his instructor, he ought to
set himself to copy good relief's
following the rules given."
In 2004, the Portrait Society of
America asked Kepes to serve as the
Georgia Goodwill Ambassador. In this
capacity, she is a liaison between the
Georgia PSOA membership and the
national office. She has helped
organize several opportunities,
including "A Day at the High", and a
Portrait Academy with Thomas Nash.
She is currently creating a website for
the Georgia PSOA members. She has
been the recipient of the Ambassador
Certificate of Achievement Award in
the Ambassador Program for the past
three years for exceptional work done
as a State Ambassador. In 2007, she
was a scholarship recipient in the
Cecilia Beaux Mentoring Program
which has further enriched her role as
a professional in the arts Mr. Calvin
Goodman, author of many books and
articles on Art Marketing, gives his time
and attention to the four recipients to
counsel them each month on the
progress of their careers. Kepes
relates that Goodman's advice has
been extremely valuable to many
successful artist, including two who
have inspired her, Gordon Wetmore,
Chairman of the Portrait Society of
America, and the Portrait Society of
Atlanta's own Georgia-based Carol
Baxter Kirby.
| Deborah in her home studio |
| "Panama City Recovery", 40" x 30", Oil on Linen |
| Phillip J. Whitcome, Ph.D., Former CEO of Avigen Corporation, Collection of the Lupus Foundation of America, 30" x 20" Oil on Linen, |
Kepes' painting process is concise
and constructive, whether she is
teaching others or working on a
portrait commission. She first creates
several sketches of the individual,
ranging in size from thumbnail to
portrait-sized, trying to work out any
problems of the painting. Once at the
'paint and canvas stage', she paints in
layers - building from dark to light and
from abstract shapes to refined
features. She finds the purest,
brightest pigments in Sennilier brand
oils and uses only Silver Brush
Company brushes. She currently has
32 colors in her palette. Photographs
of her subjects are good reference
material, but she prefers the intimate
relationship with her sitters and their
families when she paints from life. "I
learn about their personalities and
their interests which I place in the
painting - I wouldn't have known these
matters from a photograph."
Interestingly, Kepes views
composition as the identifying note of
an artist's style. Like many other
artists, she continue to be influenced
by the work of other painters, both
historic and contemporary. For many
years she has returned again and
again to The Notebooks of Leonardo
Da Vinci, for his timeless instruction.
She suggests all serious artists should
study this wonderful classic manual.
She says, "It is true that portraiture is
one of the finest forms of art. The
painter allows time to stop for a brief
moment...and yet the image remains
forever."
and constructive, whether she is
teaching others or working on a
portrait commission. She first creates
several sketches of the individual,
ranging in size from thumbnail to
portrait-sized, trying to work out any
problems of the painting. Once at the
'paint and canvas stage', she paints in
layers - building from dark to light and
from abstract shapes to refined
features. She finds the purest,
brightest pigments in Sennilier brand
oils and uses only Silver Brush
Company brushes. She currently has
32 colors in her palette. Photographs
of her subjects are good reference
material, but she prefers the intimate
relationship with her sitters and their
families when she paints from life. "I
learn about their personalities and
their interests which I place in the
painting - I wouldn't have known these
matters from a photograph."
Interestingly, Kepes views
composition as the identifying note of
an artist's style. Like many other
artists, she continue to be influenced
by the work of other painters, both
historic and contemporary. For many
years she has returned again and
again to The Notebooks of Leonardo
Da Vinci, for his timeless instruction.
She suggests all serious artists should
study this wonderful classic manual.
She says, "It is true that portraiture is
one of the finest forms of art. The
painter allows time to stop for a brief
moment...and yet the image remains
forever."