Hello my artist family!
It’s Jen here, and I am absolutely thrilled to introduce you to a wonderful aspiring professional artist (and yes, Debora, I love that title), Debora Boudreau from Sandy, Oregon.
Debora’s art journey is one of those beautiful, full-circle stories that reminds me exactly why creativity lives so deeply in us. Her grandmother used to say Debora was born scribbling on walls, and now she’s watching her own two-year-old granddaughter do the same thing—floors, walls, tables, and herself included. Clearly, the artistic gene runs strong in this family.
Art showed up early for Debora. At just 18, she was accepted into an art school in Florida. Life, however, had other plans, and instead she joined the Marine Corps. Even then, creativity found its way into her life in small but meaningful ways. Over the years she kept returning to art when she could, including a self-portrait she created at only 16.
Then came a long and difficult pause. A neck injury forced Debora to put away her brushes and ink pens for more than 30 years. She found other outlets and kept moving forward until surgery changed everything. After a long recovery, she was sitting in her living room when she realized she was no longer trembling. The very first thing she did was order art supplies online. That moment still gives me chills.
That was 11 years ago, and she has never looked back.
Debora describes painting as her happy place, and you can feel that joy in every word she shares. She is self-taught, learning through books, YouTube, studying other artists, and following her curiosity wherever it leads. Now retired for the last two years, she paints as much as she wants. Her fingers are always stained, and she jokes that she doesn’t own anything without paint on it anymore. Honestly, that sounds like a life well lived.
She took her First Five class with me about four years ago, explored other classes, and when she discovered Let’s Dabble, she jumped in wholeheartedly. Looking back at her older work now, she laughs at how proud she once was of pieces she’s ready to redo. That right there is growth, my friends.
When it comes to inspiration, Debora lights up talking about thick, colorful mountains, the beach, landscapes, and flowers. She loves impasto and that delicious balance of controlled (or not so controlled) chaos coming together. Her goal is simple and powerful: she wants her paintings to inspire peace, happiness, and joy.
The painting Debora chose to share is especially meaningful. She lived in Alaska for 20 years, and this rugged mountain scene reminds her of the view from her old home, right before the leaves fall and winter takes hold. You can feel that moment of stillness and strength, as if the landscape is taking one deep breath before the snow arrives.
When Debora talks about DabblePaints, I find myself nodding along the entire time. She says they allow the art to come through you, not from you. She loves how every artist’s work looks different, how encouraging and patient the community is, and of course, the paint itself—thick, smooth, buttery, and perfectly layered. She loves that once it dries, you can layer again as thick or thin as you want, and that these paints have helped her see just how far she can go as she continues learning.
And finally, her advice for anyone just starting out is pure Debora—joyful, practical, and honest. Just do it. Let painting be your happy place, your zen. Practice makes you better. Use lots of paint and tools, protect your floors, don’t worry about the mess, and most importantly, try not to confuse your coffee mug with your paint mug. Trust me, that advice comes from experience.
Debora, thank you for sharing your incredible journey, your resilience, and your joy with our artist family. Your story is living proof that creativity waits patiently for us, and when we return to it, it welcomes us home.
Keep creating, keep shining, and keep bringing more beauty into the world.
XO,
Jen