AWARD WINNING ARTIST + EDUCATOR + SURFACE DESIGNER

Welcome to My World

You just rang the doorbell — and I’m so glad you did. Come in, get comfortable, and let me tell you a story.  Not just about my art… but about why I paint, how I got here, and why you might find something here that speaks directly to you.

Who I Am

I’m Debbie Viola — a New York-based artist, wife, mother, and grandmother. A lover of gardens, coastlines, color, and the wonder of what happens next when brush meets canvas.

But I wasn’t always an artist.  I would've loved to learn how to paint, but the opportunity just wasn't there.

Straight outside of high school in 1976 and for 25 years after, I worked in corporate America, checking all the boxes — the steady job, the long commute, the safe path. I had a child in an Ivy League college, and another on the way there. I was the dutiful one. The responsible one. The helper. Always doing what was expected of me as an employee.  Living a robotic life five days a week.  Counting the days and minutes until Friday.

My last boss of 23 years was a brilliant lawyer who grew his practice to a nine-attorney law firm, which I ran. But the more successful he became, the more hours he demanded from me. As the years went on, I despised it more and more, but it was all I knew how to do, and didn't think I had a choice.  

                Then came September 11, 2001.  

I watched in horror as the Towers crumbled to the ground, from my office window about two miles away.  It felt like I was part of a surreal horror movie and there was no way out of it.  

As I ran alongside thousands of others through the city streets to be with my hysterical daughter, who was 100 blocks away at Barnard College, something shifted deep inside, and I suddenly had such clarity.  I made a promise to myself, that if I made it through that day, I would never work for anyone but myself ever again.  I would stop wasting time. I would stop living small. And I would find a way to bring beauty into the world.

It was one of the scariest, bravest things I’ve ever done.  It felt like financial suicide — but something in my soul said I couldn’t afford not to. I didn’t want to look back decades later and regret that I stayed in a toxic environment that wasn’t aligned with who I was.

So I chose the unknown. I chose me. And all these years later, I still honor that decision.  Every time I pick up a brush, I feel that promise living inside the paint.  My hope is to inspire you to live your dream, whatever that may be.  Remember, it ain't always easy, but it's always worth it.  It's never too late!

What I Create

Whether I’m creating something soft and serene or bold and expressive, the energy I paint with is the energy I hope you feel when you look at it, and that my collectors feel when they live with the work. Above all, I create because I believe beauty has the power to heal, to connect, and to make the world a kinder, more harmonious place.

My art is a testament to resilience and the pursuit of living a meaningful life. I want my journey to inspire others to follow their dreams, regardless of their age or circumstances.

My paintings live in that quiet space where elegance meets emotion. Each one is layered, intuitive, and handcrafted to bring a sense of beauty and balance into a room.  

I fell in love with painting on large canvases the first time I was asked to do so.  I experienced complete and utter joy as paint hit the canvas. It was liberating to create something purely from my soul, without any client or designer influence.  

Why I Create

There’s so much turmoil and unrest in the world. I create because I want to offer something different — a sense of peace, a moment of calm, a breath of beauty.

Nature is my greatest muse. A walk along the shore or a stroll through my garden often turns into a session in the studio, where I let my intuition guide me. Painting is how I find stillness. It’s how I reconnect to what really matters — and I hope my work helps others do the same.

Each brushstroke is a celebration of life and a reminder to pause and embrace the moments that make us feel truly alive. Art allows me to communicate what words can’t—a sense of peace, renewal, and freedom that uplifts and inspires.

The next two paragraphs, "My abstract.." and "My florals..." are part of "WHAT I CREATE".  But in the iPhone view, it looks like it's part of WHY I CREATE.  Please HELP!!!!!!

My abstract paintings are an extension of my experiences and emotions, characterized by fluid movement, vibrant colors, and a sense of calm. Some days I use delicate brushes. Other days, I sculpt with palette knives and plasters. I love playing with light, shimmer, and texture — creating pieces that evolve as you live with them.

My florals blend painterly texture with a refined palette, offering a soft yet impactful statement for elegant interiors. Whether bold and abstract or ethereal and airy, they’re designed to elevate a space while quietly drawing the eye in. I want them to feel like a breeze just swept through the room, carrying in a memory, a mood, or a whisper of spring.