This October, the Library’s display case features watercolor landscapes and floral paintings by local resident Debbie Turtletaub.

Artist’s Statement

I have been creating art for as long as I can remember. I started art lessons when I was ten years old. My first real piece of art I can recall was a charcoal drawing of trees. How proud I felt when I saw it framed and hanging on my parents’ living room wall! I have always loved drawing or painting landscapes. 

In college, I majored in Studio Art at Rutgers College and minored in Art History. While there, I dabbled in a variety of media such as sculpture, photography, charcoal, pastels, and oil paint. At Rutgers, I participated in several art shows. Then I went on to work in a few advertising companies and ended my advertising career as an art director. 

After I had children, I became an elementary teacher for 27 years. I loved bringing art into my classroom on a daily basis. My students created pictures to go along with their writing, projects to reflect their reading, and special creations to share with their parents. 

The first time I used watercolor paints was when I took a class with Nancy Korde. She was a big influence on my painting style with her beautiful landscapes, and I still use many of her painting techniques. I have been painting primarily in watercolor for many years and enjoy the spontaneity of how the paint reacts on the paper. I displayed my paintings in many shows throughout my career and have won a few awards. The most important part of my painting is how I feel while I’m painting and the joy it gives to others. 

For more information about my work, please email me at: dturtletaub@gmail.com