Debra Payne is a painter of rural landscapes and still lifes. Her work ranges from scenes of lush pastoral settings to renderings of houses to depictions of the disposable plastics and containers that consume our everyday lives.
What comes first – the medium or the message? Tell me a little about the work that will be on view.
For me the idea comes first, then the execution. Recently, I have returned to still life painting using disposable objects as my subject matter, which today is just about everything we own. From the clothes we wear to the food we eat or the car we drive, most everything we touch is headed, at some point, to the landfill. That’s a lot of potential subject matter.
Do you have a favorite piece?
My favorite piece is the one I’m working on.
What’s the most challenging thing about your creative process?
The most challenging part of the creative process for me is having enough confidence in my ideas and abilities to show others my work.
Who do you consider your main artistic influences?
I am currently looking at the work of any and all still life painters.
What books, movies and/or music have inspired you recently?
Garbology by Edward Humes
