About

Artist Biography & Statement

Artist Statement – Deb Bretton Robinson

I’m a contemporary acrylic painter living and working in Lowell, Massachusetts. My work is a vibrant, color-forward response to the architecture and natural landscapes of New England—especially the places I know well and return to often. I gravitate toward bold, graphic compositions that sit somewhere between representation and abstraction, capturing the rhythm of a place rather than a photographic likeness.

Much of my inspiration comes from the Fauves—Henri Matisse and William Henry Johnson in particular—as well as the Group of Seven and the expressive portraits of Alice Neel. I’m also influenced by jazz and blues, which shape my approach to composition and improvisation in the studio. My palette choices often reflect that musicality—unexpected harmonies, syncopated lines, and layered movement.

Many of my paintings begin outdoors, on location, at places like Lake Massapoag, the Merrimack and Nashua Rivers, Long Sought Pond, or the working waterfront in Gloucester. I paint en plein air whenever I can, which helps me connect directly to the environment and absorb the light, color, and energy of a scene. From there, the paintings evolve—sometimes simplified, sometimes stylized—but always rooted in the experience of being there.

I earned my BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and spent over twenty years teaching art to K–8 students in Massachusetts and Maryland. These days, I paint full-time out of my studio at Western Avenue Studios (#415) in Lowell. I’m also a participating artist in the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum’s Corporate Lending Program, which places my work in business settings throughout the Greater Boston area.

At its core, my work is about connection—to place, to memory, and to the joy of seeing the world through color