Writer's Notes: Walking into Deborah and Guy Weese's home offers a visual feast of Disney characters of many shapes and sizes. Shelves on three walls are covered with her favorite characters from Disney cartoons. I've never seen such a large collection in one place -- outside of Disneyland, of course (and this collection may even top that!).Deborah and I went out to the backyard for our conversation about her art. We sat in chairs in her garden of bamboo (a small forest), a large palm tree (largest I've seen in Oregon), a small pond with a curving bridge passing over it, stone statues amidst lots of ornamental grasses, and an abundant pear tree (plus a very friendly cat!). Some photos of the garden are featured in my story in June about Guy Weese.
In our interview, Deborah noted that she had designed the new poster for the Springfield Mayor's Art Show coming up in October. As a cat lover with many cats in the family, two of her furry ones provided the reflected image featured on the poster.
When I asked Deborah my "artist's legacy" question in our interview, she told me a touching story that made it clear why she thought she'd be remembered more for her photography than for her paintings.
Several years ago when she and Guy were photographing a wedding at Heceta Head, she had taken a photo of one of the attending grandmother's walking the path up to the lighthouse. Just moments after she had taken the photo of the grandmother smiling radiantly as she held a colorful "rainbow" umbrella, the elderly women dropped to the ground. She had died instantly. Somehow, after attempts were made to revive her, the wedding party decided that grandmother would have wanted the wedding to go on. So in the midst of their shock over her death, the couple had their wedding ceremony.
Deborah didn't immediately tell the family about the photo she had taken and was concerned about showing it to them when she was presenting the wedding photos for their review. Thankfully, the family expressed their gratitude to Deborah for the joyful photo of their grandmother in the last moments of her life.Fast-forward to a weekend last month (August 2007) when Deborah and Guy were at Heceta Head and decided to take a walk up the path up to the lighthouse. On the way, they noticed a bench for people to rest on during their walk. When they sat down on the bench, they noticed a plaque on the backrest. The plaque noted that the bench had been dedicated to the memory of the grandmother Deborah had photographed at that spot on a wedding day so many years ago.
Quite a story. We never truly know what life will bring in the next moment (except whatever comes in the next moment and the next .....). And a photographer captures just one moment of a person's life . . . a brilliant sunset at the beach . . . a cat looking at itself reflected on a window glass . . . or a smiling grandmother on a granddaughter's wedding day.
When we finished the interview and returned inside to Deborah's studio, she showed me the painting she was currently working on. The forest surrounding a lake and waterfall was nearly completed and she was planning to place a big brown bear into the scene. As you'll see in the newspaper story below, Deborah has a deep affection for animals and a sentimental heart. Her oil paintings and pastels of nature scenes always have a place for an animal whose home is the sacred ground she is capturing on her canvas.I look forward to seeing more of Deborah's work at the Emerald Art Center in the future and to spending more time delighting in the beautiful world she envisions in her paintings.
More photos of Deborah Weese's paintings follow the newspaper story.
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Featured in the Springfield Beacon (September 5, 2007)
50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community
By Todd Peterson
For The Beacon
Deborah WeesePainting the world the way she wishes it would be
Deborah Weese, an accomplished professional photographer, loves to paint the gentle side of life -- an idealized world like Disneyland. She enjoys being an "over-the top" sentimentalist who paints warm, fuzzy animals in a Disneyesk style.
In her home, Deborah has an amazing collection of Disney characters in many sizes and types. Several shelves are covered with Mickey's and Minnies, Pluto's, and the other Disney favorites of her childhood (and adulthood).
Among the animals Deborah paints with oils and pastels are many cats -- cats with names like "Simba" and "Shadow". Most of the cats have been a part of her life at home. Most recently, Deborah designed a poster for the Springfield Mayor's Art Show that featured two of her cats.
An active member of the Emerald Art Center since the downtown gallery opened in the Fall of 2004, Deborah created the initial website for the organization. Now her husband, Guy, does most of the on-going maintenance of the site which has been viewed by thousands of people living in countries throughout the world.
Deborah and Guy have done wedding photography together for over 16 years -- enjoying the process of capturing the precious moments of celebration for many newlyweds. In her work as a photography professional in a hospital setting for several years, Deborah has photographed a wide variety subjects -- from technical medical photos to very heart-wrenching photos of babies with their parents for the last time.
Deborah Weese has seen the beautiful and the tragic through the lens of her camera. Her joy is seen in her paintings of a kinder, gentler world filled with delight (and lots of warm fuzzies!).
In her own words:
Inspiration To Begin: "I was influenced most by Disney films (we went to Disneyland at least once a year). I can't recall not drawing and painting as a child. Now I work as a professional photographer and paint for the sure joy of doing it."
Important Mentors: "Of course, Walt Disney (who I never met). And the Old Masters -- Van Gogh and several other Impressionists. In photography I've had lots of influences -- Imogen Cunningham, Dorothea Lange, and Annie Leibovitz among others."
Value of Art in Life: "My art connects me spiritually with the Creator. It causes me to see -- to really appreciate what I see -- and not take things for granted. And it connects me with people who I never would have met."
Her Artist's Legacy: "I expect I'll be remembered more for my photography than my paintings. I've had some amazing moments of connection with people that will live on in the photos I've taken of them. As for my paintings, I haven't mastered oils yet but I'm having fun trying!"
For more information about Deborah Weese and to see additional images of her art, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.
"Hidden Mickey" by Deborah WeeseAbout The Artist
Birthplace: Pasadena, California
Arts Education: Lane Community College (graphic design); art and photography classes at Maude Kerns Art Center
Media of Choice: Oil and pastels
Favorite Place to Do Art: At home in her studio (anytime night or day)
Favorite Subjects To Paint: Animals (warm and fuzzy); nature (tall trees)
Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association
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All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.
"Panda" by Deborah Weese
"Sheep After Jerry Dame" by Deborah Weese
"Cougar Falls" by Deborah Weese
