Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Debbie Carroll. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Debbie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

I absolutely wish I’d started my creative career sooner as a painter. For many years, as far back as a college graduate, I’ve said one day I wanted to paint. I never really had much training as a painter, but somehow felt this was something I could do – one day!

After graduating from college, I traveled to Europe on a trip arranged for students and recent grads by the University of Illinois. This was a life changing trip in many ways, I enjoyed seeing art I had studied in school, met other young people, and it gave me the impetus to move to Texas, where I worked in the travel industry for many years as a result of that experience.

As I approached the age of thirty, I began to crave a more creative type of career and with my degree in Fashion Merchandising, pursued a career with Crate & Barrel where I eventually became a store designer, responsible for window displays and the whole look of the store. While this was definitely a step in the right direction, it still wasn’t where I felt I should be. After five years doing retail display, I went back to a job in travel so I could do a Graphic Design program at night.
Again, another step, but it took me many more years to begin to paint.

I married, had children and began to design and sell jewelry when my kids were small, and when everyone in Austin seemed to be doing the same, figured it was time for me to get serious about painting. I finally took a workshop with Stephen Kilborn in Taos and it was life changing for me. I found my artistic voice and now had a direction!

I wish had started sooner, but do think I had more confidence in my abilities as an older person and business experience which also helped me navigate being in creative career.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I currently work as a full time artist and my main medium is acrylic paint. My work is represented in galleries in Santa Fe, Taos, San Antonio, and Buda Texas. I also have participated in regional and national shows such as the Coors Western Art Show and Cowgirl Up, and am a member of both Woman Artists of the West and Cowgirl Artists of America.

I primarily paint landscapes and botanicals which are heavily influenced by my travels to the Southwest, including Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. My goal is to interpret what I see and paint in what I call and “Contemporary Expressive” style and my pieces are what one might call the “Modern West”. I feel that my personal interpretations are what set my work apart, the paintings are representational and not intended to be realistic, and feature graphic line and a bold use of color. I tend to romanticize my subjects and often show what one might find to be an ordinary scene, in an extraordinary way!

My goal for this year is take part in what I consider to be important shows and maintain my relationships with my galleries, and will be adding a new gallery to the roster in 2025! I am very proud of the progress I’ve made in the relatively short time I’ve been painting; trying to make up for lost time, I spend a lot time at the easel! I’ve hit many of my early goals, but there is always more to learn and I look forward to stretching myself creatively.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Many, or maybe even most artists, dread rejection. Unfortunately is a large part of being in a creative career. I learned early on it’s good to have the hide of a Rhinocerous and not let the rejections keep you from putting yourself out there. I know it’s extremely cliche, but one of my mantras is “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”, if you don’t put yourself out there, you will never know what is possible! I have a stubborn streak, and so when people tell me I can’t do something, it tends to make me try that much harder! Perhaps this is turning a negative into a positive? I hope so, and encourage other artists to not be afraid to approach galleries, venues and shows as a way of getting their work seen. You never know what might come of a connection made at an art fair, or even a casual conversation with a stranger.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Julie Cameron’s book “The Artist’s Way” was definitely influential. While I do not do everything I should, I have picked up the wonderful habit of writing Morning Notes, and the process of writing somehow helps me creatively, putting pen to paper and reflecting and examining one’s thoughts – clearing the mind – really was a gift. She talks about putting it out there to the universe and while some might think that’s pretty woo woo, I do find that when I make that leap of faith, it makes a difference. So yes, I highly recommend this book and actually doing the exercises. My next habit to add will be that of the “Artist Date”, a weekly date where you spend time on your own doing something unrelated to your art, but something that nourishes another aspect of your being. I have a feeling this will also be a transformative practice!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.debbiecarrollfineart.com
• Instagram: @debbiecarroll
• Facebook: debbie carroll fine art
• Other: Galleries:

  Worrell Gallery in Santa Fe, NM
  The Ranch at Taos in Taos, NM
  Assemblage Contemporary Craftsman in Buda, TX
  Prudencia Gallery in San Antonio, TX