For over forty years I’ve been a working artist and have developed a very personal vision, through the practice of several mediums: photography, pastel, oil and the written word. Representational in style my work depicts many different subjects from figures to interiors, landscapes to still life, but my focus in these is on the metaphorical and symbolic ideas that are present in daily life, in nature and in the relationship between the two. The place between inner and outer experiences often forms a starting point for me and painting offers a way to explore this ever-shifting reality.

My work is shown in galleries and group exhibitions, has been used on book covers, calendars and cards and can be found in numerous private and public collections. Many of my paintings and pastels about books and reading are collected in the volume In the Presence of Books with an introduction by poet Kim Stafford (William, James & Co 2007). I’ve written two books: Traveling Light: Chasing an Illuminated Life (Impassio Press 2003, William, James & Co 2007) about my photography and Painting Cats (William, James & Co 2008), about my relationship with cats and their influence on my work. Recently I've self-published three small volumes of imagery in a series called A Painter's Reasons. I live and work on the North Oregon Coast with my filmmaker husband Carl Vandervoort.

My most recent paintings will be shown at a studio show October 11th & 12th, 2025--Generations and the Lives of Flowers. You can see that work and more of my past and present artwork, purchase reproductions, note cards and books, or contact me at www.deborahdewit.com.