Check Out Deb Bartos’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Deb Bartos.

Hi Deb, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always loved being in nature and discovering more about the world around us. I always loved art and museums that shared a common love of beauty and wonder. My mom was a nurse, so I became a nurse, going to the same nursing school in Cincinnati, Ohio. I developed my nursing career into home care and education to learn the most important aspects of patient’s lives that I could help support and grow. My love for nature and art always has been strong, and in 1991 I started painting again as an adult. I loved doing it as a child and have been exposed to wonderful museums and artists through life in Cincinnati. I have studied with artists whose work I enjoyed, and the art experience continued to grow, as I was able to visit European museums and also teach art. My work is about light and color, as those things draw my attention in the natural world. I love other artists whose work exemplifies the true colors of light in nature and continue to learn from them. I’ve taught art classes at the Bemis School of Art in Colorado Springs, Colorado College, and at Colorado Christian University. I organized paint out events for the Plein Air Artists of Colorado for three years and love painting on-site, as it reveals so much information about color and light and the feeling of being there that comes out in the painting. It’s a challenge, as you need to paint fast and include the most important elements of the scene. I love helping students improve in their work as well as creating my own impressions of an experience on canvas with paint.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been a balancing act between work as a nursing educator and an artist/arts educator, but I’ve learned more about who I am through the process. Somehow, things seem to work out, and I’ve had wonderful support and mentors along the way. I think my life energy has always been about exploring, learning, and sharing beauty. The Native American path of “Walk in Beauty” has always been my goal and the path that seems most true.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My paintings are Colorado Landscapes in oil and mostly done on location. The larger pieces are from my own references and sketches, and all represent the joy of finding beauty in nature. Most of my patrons and viewers comment on loving the color in my work, which I appreciate as I’m constantly training my eye to represent better the rich depth of color I see in nature.

What are your plans for the future?
I’m looking forward to being able to teach art in person again. I miss the interaction in the classroom setting, but in the meantime, I am continuing to paint, spending more time in nature with my dog and socially distanced friends, and finding new venues for my work. I currently have paintings at the Sangre de Cristo Art Center in Pueblo, the Warehouse Gallery, and Wooglins Deli in Colorado Springs.

Contact Info:

• Email: debbartos@gmail.com
• Website: www.debbartos.com
• Facebook: Deb Bartos Fine Art