About the Artist
Debra Kay Guess
The qualities of natural beauty -- that's to say, authentic beauty -- that fascinate me most are randomness, spontaneity, imperfection. Add to that the joy of expressing myself in color, and that’s why I paint the way I do.
Much of the rest of my life is organized, planned, scheduled, checklisted. Voluntarily, and in the interest of sanity maintained from order. It’s my inner engineer, looking after structure and clarity; the framework that gives my other inner voice -- the curious child – the freedom to express myself with paint; to explore what ifs, so whats, why nots. It is the only place I find myself lost in the moment while staying in the present. Where I become completely absorbed, creating something unduplicatable, in my own voice.
Every painting is its own exploration of color, shapes and the process itself. I rarely begin a piece with an end result in mind. Most often it comes to me somewhere along the way; and in the case of primarily abstract, only near the end or even afterward. I’m comfortable trusting that experiences and memories that shape my awareness and inform my subconscious will in some way represent themselves on the canvas. How can they not?
Recently, I’ve given in to an urge toward abstracted botanical shapes and relationships. And a growing interest in the positive and negative planes that our brains take for granted. But always with color at the forefront.
When viewing my work, I invite you to respond rather than rationalize. To consider the visual interest and color harmonies of the whole piece, but also the up-close details and excerpts – the intentional and controlled, as well as the random, the spontaneous, the imperfect.
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With a BA in Communications, a Minor in Art, and more than 30 years in marketing, sales and desk jobs, I returned to painting as a creative calling outside the confines of the 8-to-5 routine. Now retired, I paint full-time in my home studio, in Frankfort, Kentucky, where I live with my life partner of 41 years and counting, and our two high maintenance dogs.
Solo Exhibits
"Color Commentary," Yes Arts, 2023
"Living in Color," Joseph Downing Museum, 2022
"Intuitions," Lexington Art League, 2021
Jane Chancellor Moore Gallery, 2021
"Core Samples," Tim Faulkner Gallery, 2020
Roberta Marx Gallery at TJUC, 2020
Grand Gallery at The Grand Theatre, 2018
Wesley Center Gallery at First United Methodist Church, 2017
Sixth & Main Coffeehouse, 2017
Group Exhibitions
"How To Be Beautiful" juried exhibition, Arts Connect/Lexington Public Library, 2022
"Abstract Weave: Interplay in Motion" two-person contemporary abstract exhibit at John G. Irvin Gallery, 2022
"Gimme Shelter" juried exhibition, Artspace on-line gallery, 2021
Jane Chancellor Moore On-Line Gallery 2020-2021
"Open to Interpretation" abstract invitational, Arts Center of the Bluegrass, 2020
10th Annual "Art Comes Alive" juried competition and exhibit, Art Design Consultants, Inc., 2019
"Horizons: Contemporary Landscapes" juried exhibit, Arts Center of the Bluegrass, 2019
"We Are Kentucky" juried Governor's Derby Exhibit, 2019
Periwinkle Studio & Gallery, 2018
SALI National Abstract Art Juried Exhibition XIV, 2018
3 Square Art "New Horizons: Landscapes" juried exhibit, 2018
Greenwich House Gallery "Vistas", 2018
Dogwood Art & Gifts II at Wakefield-Scearce Gallery, 2018
Dogwood Art & Gifts, 2017
Shelby Regional Arts Council Art Show, 2015
Gallery 104 Animal Attraction Art Show, 2013
Louisville Women's Club Annual Art Show, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019
Shelbyville Artists on Main Shelbypalooza Art Show, 2011
Corporate/Extended
Ameriprise Financial, Frankfort KY
BLINK Art Catalog gallery of artists, Art Design Consultants, Inc., 2020-2021
Arts Connect's Mobile Gallery, Lexington KY (ongoing at various locations)
Greenwich House Gallery, Cincinnati OH (gallery artist)
CTM Financial Group, Frankfort KY
Periwinkle Studio & Gallery, Frankfort KY
Publications
BLINK Art Catalog 2020
The Charmed Studio [blog] "How to Submit Your Art to a Museum," contributing artist, November 2019
Louisville Visual Art, Artebella Weekly Digest, Artist Vignette, November 2018
Awards
BoldBrush Painting Competition "Favorite 15%," September 2020
BoldBrush Painting Competition "Favorite 15%," July 2020
BoldBrush Painting Competition "Favorite 15%," December 2019
BoldBrush Painting Competition "Favorite 15%," August 2019
BoldBrush Painting Competition "Favorite 15%," April 2019
BoldBrush Painting Competition "Favorite 15%," January 2019
BoldBrush Painting Competition "Favorite 15%," July 2018
BoldBrush Painting Competition "Favorite 15%," February 2018
Louisville Women's Club Annual Art Show Yellow Ribbon, 2015
Louisville Women's Club Annual Art Show Yellow Ribbon, 2013
Memberships
Louisville Visual Art
Lexington Art League
Fine Art Studio On-Line
