Deb Kresnicka



Deb Kresnicka was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but attended Virginia Intermont College where she studied Fine Arts. After college she returned to Chicago where she met and married her husband, Richard. She still maintains a summer residence in Chicago where she is an active member of the Midwest Collage Society. Her son and his family as well as other family members still reside in the Chicago area. She also has a daughter who lives in Tucson, which prompted her move to SaddleBrooke.

Deb’s evolvement into collage began partly with her work in watercolor.  She was astounded by the work of Georgia O’Keefe, particularly the large floral pieces that were done in watercolor.  Raleigh Kenny showed her that one 2 1/2 inch brush could be used to complete an entire painting.  Finally, while working as a hostess and framer in an Illinois art gallery, her co-worker Laura Lein Spencer,  began a collage workshop and later went on to found the Midwest Collage Society in order to promote collage as a fine art medium through exhibits and workshops. It was through her work with Penny Peterson that Deb produced a collage entitled “ Significance” based on the book, Search for Significance.  That collage created such interest that Deb decided to do a religious series of collages based on the book.

Deb has had great success as a collage artist. She was one of three artists featured in a show at the Kerr Cultural Center in Scottsdale in March of 2000. In 2005 she was commissioned to do two pieces to be included in On Mission Magazine. In 2007 she participated in the Layer II Exhibition sponsored by the Midwest Collage Society at the Elmhurst Art Museum which features the Midwest Watercolor Society’s yearly winners. Also in 2007 she published a book, “Cats on a Worldwide Quest” which is a collection of plein air watercolor sketches and collages based on her travel. She currently is exhibiting work in Chicago and SaddleBrooke, and in March of this year she will participate in a three woman show at the Beatitudes in Phoenix.

The SaddleBrooke Fine Arts Guild has been fortunate to be able to sponsor Deb as one of their instructors and she is currently teaching a collage course through the beginning of March. “It has been an inspiration for me to see the enthusiasm our residents exhibit now that they have the time to explore artistic mediums.” She encourages residents to explore many art mediums and feels that art students can learn at least one new thing that they can carry on and incorporate into their own work.

View my work on any of these sites below:

http://www.debkressfloorcloths.blogspot.com

http://www.debkresnickacollageart.blogspot.com

http://www.debkressgallery.blogspot.com