August 2008

Debbie NumotoWatercolor!

Artist Reception: Friday, September 5th, 6:00pm

Debbie Dawn Numoto considers Vashon her second home. She spends weekends on the island with her husband Phil at their adorable cottage. “I love this little cottage that we visit every weekend. We work in the garden, unwind and get away from it all. I often feel inspired to paint here.”

 Debbie was born in Yakima WA and spent much of her youth playing in her Grandfather’s orchard where she learned a great respect for nature and all it has to offer. When she was just 5 years old she entered her first show, a painting of an angel entered into the Uncle Jimmy show in Yakima, and won first place and was on TV.   She currently lives in West Seattle and enjoys gardening, dancing, spending time with family and friends, and learning. She recently took on the task of continuing her art education. After a year of drawing classes and a summer of pastel lessons she went back to Yakima with a desire to paint the hills. This created a series of pastel and watercolor paintings of the Yakima River and surrounding hills which will be shown at this show. “The dry snake and spider infested hills that surrounded me and I feared as a child are now like beautiful curvy open spaces that are essential habitat to the nature I love.” Debbie is well known for her whimsical snow people. These paintings of snowmen and snowwomen have been displayed in stores such as Nordstrom, Illusions Hair Design, and Seattle-area cafes. Her Hawaiian snow people were popular at Ralph’s Hula Bean Coffee in Kona, Hawaii. Her painting of a West Seattle Junction scene, which featured plantings, a bench and, a street lamp, was selected as a marketing artwork piece for the West Seattle Art Walk in the Fall 2002. Her snowman with streetcar was used as the design for the Christmas ornament in December 2003. Debbie is an active member of the community. She has served as a juror for the West Seattle Arts and Crafts Market and is a member of the Northwest Watercolor Society and Artswest Artist Asso. At this show there will be new original pastel paintings of the Yakima River and flowers, new watercolors of the Yakima River, beach scenes, and paintings inspired by time spent on Vashon Island. Additionally, there will be prints of some often requested favorites.