Debbie Mueller

Debbie Mueller My mother gave birth to me twice. In 1960 she gave birth to a baby, and in 2016, she gave birth to an artist. I lived my first 56 years believing I had no artistic ability. In 2016, while visiting my parents, a rainy day left us searching for an activity. My mother, a lifelong hobby painter, suggested painting, and I reluctantly agreed. My first painting was far from a masterpiece, but I immediately appreciated the meditative and focused experience. Upon my return home, I bought some paints of my own. Thanks to the generosity of my teachers and harnessing the same drive that I used to get through Medical School and my training and career as an Obstetrician/Gynecologist, I have created the most extraordinary life as a painter. I have enjoyed the warm camaraderie of the wonderful community of artists I have met., and I have been given the gift of seeing our beautiful world through the eyes of an artist. From the start, I found myself drawn strongly to paintings that convey a strong sense of light and shadow. My work has explored this, both in the landscape, and increasingly in still life. I continue to work as a physician, though in the last couple of years part time, which allows me more time to paint. No one is more surprised than I am at the course my life has taken, and I give thanks every day for the rainy day that led to me to this most treasured discovery.

I am an accidental artist.  In 2016, while visiting my parents, a dreary, dull day resulted in an offer by my mother, a lifelong hobby painter, to paint with her.  I considered refusing, as I was convinced that I had no artistic abilities and didn't relish the idea of creating something ugly, but I truly had nothing better to do.  That day changed my life.  I made a poor painting, but felt wonderful while doing it, so bought some paint when I arrived home and thus began my journey as an oil painter.  Since that time, I have studied with some wonderful teachers, including Todd Bonita, Timothy Horn, Peggy Kroll Roberts, Anne Blair Brown, and Sarah Sedwick. I have voraciously consumed information about painting and delight in having discovered something where I can continue to learn and improve for the rest of my days.  Having practiced medicine for 30 years, it is wonderful to be exploring a new career and learning new skills. I am inspired wherever I travel, but nowhere more so than Monhegan Island.   Part of my art education has been courtesy of Instagram, where I am able to view the work of some of the best painters in the world.  I have found that I am drawn to works that have a strong sense of illumination, and that’s what I strive for in my own work.  I have discovered plein air painting and have delighted in capturing the beauty of our region as I travel with my paints.  In addition, painting still life has allowed me to paint from life during days when being outdoors is difficult.  For any subject, light and shadow are the star players.  As a late bloomer artist, I consider the blessings that discovering painting has bestowed upon me.  I have made some wonderful friends through painting (shhh- don’t let anyone know, but artists are so much nicer than doctors!) I am able to see the beauty of the world around us through an artist’s eyes- even dreary days bear wonder, and I have a sense of purpose that allows me to rise each morning with eagerness as I think, “What will I paint today?”

Artist CV Debbie Muellerdebbiemuellerart@gmail.comwww.debbiemuellerart.com@thelatebloomerartist603-767-564552 Edgewood RoadDurham, NH 03824 Education: BA Wesleyan University 1981MD University of Connecticut School of Medicine 1985 Art Studies with Pamela duLong Williams, Tom Glover, David Lussier, Todd Bonita, Stan Moeller, Sean Beavers, Timothy Horn, Peggi Kroll Roberts, Anne Blair Brown, Julie Beck, Sarah Sedwick Solo Exhibitions: 2023 Eyewitness- In Hopper’s Footsteps, Rockport Art Association, Rockport, MA2022 Cheers! Kennedy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH2021 Beacon Kennedy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH2020 “Looking Beyond” Kennedy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH2019 Dover Public Library, Dover NH2019 “A Love Affair with Home” York Hospital, York, ME2018 Emporium Framing and Gallery South Berwick, ME2018 Seacoast Repertory Theater Lobby Portsmouth, NH2016 Riverstones Framing and The Franklin Gallery Rochester, NH2016 Durham Public Library Durham, NH Selected Group Exhibitions: 2024 Oil Painters of America National Salon Exhibition2024 Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition2024 NOAPS Best of America Small Works Exhibition2024 NOAPS Associate On Line Exhibition2024 Finalist Richeson Small Works Exhibition2024 Emerald Art Center National Exhibition 2023 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Fall International Online Exhibition2023 Art 2 Life International Juried Art Exhibition2023 Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition, Beverly MacNeil Gallery, Birmingham, Alabama2023 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Associates Member On-line Exhibition2023 American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition Greenville, DE2023 Copley Society of Art “Through Hopper’s Lens”, Boston MA2023 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition. Reinert Gallery, Charleston, SC2023 New Hampshire Art Association Lassonde Exhibition, Portsmouth NH2022 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Fall International Online Exhibition 2022 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Best of America Small Works Show2022 American Impressionist Society 6^th Annual AIS Impressions: Small Works Showcase2022 American Impressionist Society Associate Members Online Exhibition2022 American Women Artists Spring Online Show2021 Plein Air Pawtucket, Pawtucket, RI2021 New Hampshire Art Association Lassonde Exhibition (Juried Exhibition) 2020. New Hampshire Art Association Dunfey Show (Juried Exhibition) 2020 Rockport Art Association & Museum National Exhibition (Juried Exhibition) 2020 Rockport Art Association & Museum New Member Exhibition2020 Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival (Juried Artist) 2020 Cape Cod Art Center The Nationals (Juried Exhibition) 2020 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition 2020, RS Hanna Gallery, Fredericksberg, Texas Juried Exhibit2020 National Oil and Acrylic Society Best of America Small Painting 2020, McBride Gallery, Annapolis, Maryland. Juried Exhibit2020 Lassonde Exhibition NH Art Association Portsmouth, NH Juried Exhibit2020. Apero Catalogue “Experiences”2019 Apero Catalogue “Places”. Second Place2019 Dunfey Exhibition Levy Gallery Portsmouth, NH (Juried Exhibit)2019 Land and Light and Water and Air 2019, Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, VT (Juried exhibit)2019 9^th Annual Art Tour of America Artists Invitational, Cortile Gallery, Provincetown, MA (Juried Exhibit)2019 Castine Plein Air Festival, Castine ME. (Juried Artist)2019 The National Cape Cod Art Center (Juried Exhibit)2019 Bay State Open Exhibition Cape Cod Art Center (Juried Exhibit)2019 The Art of Great Bay Greenland, NH (Juried Exhibit)2018 Dunfey Exhibition Levy Gallery Portsmouth, NH (Juried Exhibit)2018 Change Roux and Cyr Gallery Portland, ME (Juried Exhibit) 2018 Barn Gallery Regional Juried Show Ogunquit, ME2018 Art Guild of the Kennebunks, Kennebunkport, ME2018 Sheafe Warehouse Gallery Portsmouth, NH2018 The Art of Great Bay Greenland, NH (Juried Exhibit)2018 Capturing Light Roux and Cyr Gallery Portland, ME (Juried Exhibit)2018 For the Love of Art Levy Gallery Portsmouth, NH2018 From the Many Riverstones Gallery Rochester, NH2017 Deck the Walls Levy Gallery Portsmouth, NH2017 Nocturnes True Grit Gallery Middleboro, MA (Juried Exhibit) 2017 “Fresh Paint and Pixels” Gallery 6 Dover, NH2017 Sheafe Warehouse Gallery Portsmouth, NH (Juried Exhibit)2017 Guest Artist Studio51Ceres Portsmouth, NH2016 From the Many Riverstones Gallery Rochester, NH Memberships: National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS)Oil Painters of AmericaAmerican Impressionist SocietyAmerican Women Artists-Associate Member with DistinctionRockport Art Association Juried Exhibiting Artist Awards: 2024 Second Place Oil Painters of America Wet Paint Competition/Studio2023 First Place Art 2 Life International Juried Art Exhibition2023 Honorable Mention, American Impressionist Society National Exhibition2023 Second Place, Through Hopper’s Lens, Copley Society of Art, Boston MA2023 Second Place Modern Impressionist Magazine Cover and Feature Article2022 Third Place Quick Draw Non-juried artists Cape Ann Plein Air2020 Best in Show Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival “Suspended Service” 2020 People’s Choice Award Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival “Nubble Morning”2020 Honorable Mention Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival “Nubble Morning” 2020 Second Place Lassonde Exhibition “Monhegan Blues” Portsmouth, NH2019 Second Place Apero Catalogue “Places” October 20192019 First Place Oil/Acrylic “The Nationals” Cape Cod Art Center, Barnstable, MA2018 June Art Muse Emerging Artist Finalist and Jack Meier Gallery Representation Finalist 2018 Artist’s Magazine Annual Art Competition, First Place, Landscape (for Student category, artists painting for less than 6 years) 2018 Art Guild of the Kennebunks - Best in Show Presentations: The Anatomy of a Painting- Women and Infants Hospital Justine Zompa Memorial Lecture 2021, Durham Public Library 2023.On the Hopper Trail- Ogunquit Memorial Library 2021, Star Island 2022, Rockport Art Association 2023“The Accidental Painter” Pecha Kucha Portsmouth NH 2017“Late Bloomer Artist” Durham Public Library 2016 Representation: Cortile Gallery, Provincetown, MAKennedy Gallery, Portsmouth, NHARTNOVA Gallery, Chatham, MALibby Silvia Artstyle, Wellesley, MAJackson Art, Jackson, NH Media 2024 American Art Collector January Artist Focus2023 “Surprised by Joy” Modern Impressionist Magazine Feature Story 2023 Aart Podcast 2023 Northshore Magazine “Painter Debbie Mueller Revisits Edward Hopper’s Subjects in Rockport Exhibit” 2022 Cape Cod Life Art-Featured Artist2022 Southwest Art April/May Featured Artist “Back to Nature” 2021 Creative Guts Podcast2021 Cape Cod Life Art- Emerging Artist Profile2020 American Art Collector, Landscapes, and Breaking Traditions: OPA National Juried Exhibition2020 American Art Collector April. Emerging Artists2020 American Art Collector Feb. Artist Focus, Cityscapes2018 Artists Magazine December, 2018 “15 Award Winning Student Works”2018 Artists of New England Podcast, Episode 10 2017 Featured Artist: Art Food Home blog February 2018

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