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Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Deb Scott presents entertaining and informative program
Visitors at Dover Museum on Sunday, Aug. 18 were amazed by the research and work Deb Scott did, incorporating nature into her painting. Her first presentation at Dover focused on her sculptures. Those works of art include not only the person’s facial features but include a complete life story. Deb’s paintings were the subject of this visit.
It is impossible to include all the wonderful ideas and information she presented. Hopefully an overview will encourage you find out more about her techniques. To see a painting of the Skunk River or an outdoor scene done in colors made from the materials found in those places is momentous.
Beginning from finding the rocks and minerals, grinding them finely, through the use of ground insects and plants to make the paints used in her creation, Deb depends on nature. She even uses shells to store the pigments. Carefully recording the material used to make the pigment and color cards, she is able to recreate all her colors when needed. A colorful addition to her story is one card labeled Zeta. A friend, Zeta Pilch, brought Deb a rock. The pigment was promptly named after the donor.
Moving from the pigment to the paint is also quite an involved process. The medium used to dissolve or carry the pigment determines its use. Deb’s favorite medium is water and much of her work is in watercolor. She also uses walnut oil and a gum arabic and honey carrier.
Her brushes are also natural. She uses turkey feathers to make the ferrules for her brushes, hair from many animals, and bone or twigs for handles.
Her last lesson was making her own charcoal for sketches. Deb learned that willow was the preferred wood. She promptly located a willow tree, gained permission to use some of the wood, and stripped the twigs of the bark. She placed the twigs in a metal box and proceeded to heat it creating a beautiful charcoal stick. Never wasting a bit, the bark when into her medicinal chest since aspirin was originally obtained from willows.
Currently much of Deb’s work is on display at the Fort Madison Art Center, 825 Avenue G, Fort Madison, Iowa. Take advantage of this opportunity to visit the center.
