Debbie Edgers Sturges’ larger than life wildlife paintings have graced the Celebration of Fine Art since 2004. Each year brings new subject matter as she travels the world to research the animals in their natural habitat.

In 2007 Debbie traveled to Alaska spending time in Kukak and Halo Bays to observe Alaskan Coastal Grizzly Bears. She was able to take over 6000 photographs of bear behavior. Her first hand observations have translated themselves into passionate and realistic paintings that made viewers want to reach out and touch. Many of these works of art were on display at last year’s show until they were scooped up by excited collectors. In 2008 she fulfilled another lifelong dream as she traveled to Churchill to study and photograph Polar Bears in their natural setting. Visitors to the Celebration of Fine Art can expect to see these images come to life in Debbie’s studio this year! She has already ordered a 4’ x 6’ canvas for one such painting. You can expect to see other animals as well – buffalos, fox, cougars, rabbits, elk, birds, bobcats and more!

Debbie’s work truly reflects her passion for the western wildlife and landscape. Her paintings have been inspired by her summers as a child exploring the beaches of Washington State and her current adopted home of Idaho in the Rocky Mountains as well as the winters she now spends in the Arizona desert. Debbie lives in a log cabin in the shadow of a mountain next to a river. When she is not painting she is enjoys hiking, observing and photographing the animals and landscape that live in the desert rocks and mountain forests. Many of the animals you see in her paintings are truly her neighbors! One of Debbie’s avid collectors, T. Schupp of Tempe, says “Debbie’s paintings have a way of bringing the animal and its surroundings to life. You can feel the presence in the room where you hang the work.” Debbie hopes to inspire others to examine with a curious heart all that surrounds in the natural world.

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting from the University of Washington and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University in Boston, MA, Debbie is well trained in the technicalities of art. Perhaps, more importantly, Debbie has an innate ability to translate what she sees into phenomenal works of art that leave a lasting and positive impression on anyone who sees her work. Be sure to stop and say hello to Debbie when you visit the Celebration of Fine Art January 16 through March 29, 2009 in Scottsdale, Arizona.