The biggest influence in my life was a path absent from art.  Although I was artistic at a young age, it was never nurtured.  In turn, I have had many careers far from the art world.  I was the second women permitted in the carpentry field in the US Air force, I would later design educational material and run the collegiate accreditation for a USAF School. I have been an emergency medical technician (EMT), and a computer program instructor, just to limit the list to a few.  I have seen and done many things, but the one thing that held true the whole time, was the belief, that I was my favorite project.

There is no better way to put it than, I eventually found myself.  I allowed myself to be who I was meant to be.  In 2008 I became a full-time artist.  I work in every material.  My approach is first to examine what I want to say and then decide what material would best express the content.  I never limit myself by the fact I never used a material before. It is easier to say I work in all materials than to name the few processes I have not done yet.  Besides I am young and there is still time.

When I decided to become a full time artist, I decided to support myself by creating collaborative public art.  At this point I am creating one – two large projects a year.  In addition, I usually have anywhere from one-three bodies of work I continually work on.  My first bodies of work were environmental installations, then toy sculptures, and then a body of work about empowerment that led to quilting and felting. Here at DeborahLandry.com I have centralized all that I do.  You can explore my different websites, galleries, shops and workshops.

Art guides me in every aspect of my life. I first explore the message I want to convey and let the direction and material come naturally.  This method of art making allows me to work in all materials. I never let the fact I have not worked in material limit my direction. I simply look at it as a challenge to overcome.

My Artwork is inspired by nature.  Nature not only shows up as the imagery but also plays a big part in the making process.   My gardens supply me with many of the materials I need to create paper, printmaking, and ink.

My art practices and art making are truly multimedia.  One artwork can have several processes.  On any given week I can boil nuts to make ink, press some flowers and leaves, incorporate them in papermaking and then later paint a flower on the same paper before calling it finished art.  Art is not just in the finished piece but in the process of making.