Debra Stanger has loved art all her life. She studied under many renowned artists and taught art before retiring. Stanger has been painting since high school, winning many awards. She enjoys painting with bright acrylic, oils, and pastels.
She turns her love for animals and nature into art, bringing out the soul of an abstract style. Stanger shares, “Many have called my art bold and beautiful. I use bright colors and often texture to bring joy to my viewers.”
Both of Stanger’s grandmothers were artists. “My Grandma Hayes painted on the thinnest bone china. She would tell me about how she used small brushes. She painted the most delicate, beautiful flowers. I would sit and admire all the china she displayed.”
Stanger is the proud owner of some of Grandma Hayes’s pieces. Before Stanger had her daughter, she also tried her hand at china painting, adding to her current collection of china art.
Stanger’s other grandmother, Grandma Dauenbaugh, was a crafter with a large room in her basement, where she wove “beautiful and useful rugs.” Grandma Dauenbaugh also made jewelry, sewed all her clothes, quilted, and did some leather work (Stanger’s favorite).
“I was the recipient of wallets, belts, and purses she tooled amazing images and designs into. I also remember she would invest in other craft kits that were intriguing. I don’t know how she did it all,” says Stanger proudly.
Stanger creates her art in her home. “Most people my age downsize, but when we moved to Colorado, we upsized. I have two adjoining rooms on the main floor with a walk-in closet for storage. I paint acrylics in one of the rooms and oils in the other. The closet is overflowing with canvases and art supplies,” Stanger confesses.
But it doesn’t stop there. Stanger dedicates her basement, home to a large collection of rubber stamps, to working with pastels and watercolors. “Each of my working rooms has large architectural flat files for storing paper and some of my work. I feel very blessed to have the space I have.”
Stanger admits there are times she spills over to the dining room table when she’s preparing for a large show, even after “taking up much of the garage with frames, grid walls, boxes, and stuff for displaying at shows.”
Stanger’s workspaces are all decorated with art from other artists and her own, admitting, “I like stuff. I have class cabinets in one of the rooms with all the Ukrainian Easter eggs I made over the years. It also displays collectibles from all my trips to Africa, wood sculptures, glass figurines, and some cool toys like hand-carved tops, shells, and rocks.”
Her biggest collection consists of flying pigs, which are “hung or displayed in every room.” She also has “some amazing bears to go along with all my bear paintings.” Stanger hopes to paint as long as her eyes hold out and she can hold a paintbrush.
She’d like to have more of an online presence to sell her art through her website. Stanger once worked with clay and would like a larger kiln to practice hand-making crafts. She also wants to “travel more to be inspired and replenish my reference photos.”
In college, Stanger admired many French impressionists. “Today, I just love scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest and seeing all the amazing art from current artists.”
To state the obvious, Stanger is passionate about all things art, and for the right reasons. She shares a story of a man whose grandson saw a painting of Stanger’s at a doctor’s office and fell in love with it.
The grandfather returned for the painting, but it was gone. He called Stanger, and lo and behold, she had the painting in her possession. The grandfather purchased it for his grandson’s birthday, sending Stanger a photo of his grandson holding his new favorite artwork.
“So adorable. I love when children admire art. I have had many grandparents buy art for their grandchildren, which I think is such a cool gift,” says Stanger.
Today, Stanger continues to attend workshops and classes and paints almost daily. She has been painting for 50 years.
Debra Stanger’s art is displayed at The Old Gallery in Allenspark. You can find her art by visiting http://creativecallingnow.com/ or you can give her a call at 480-280-0369.
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