New Paintings at City Art Gallery, July 2021

I don’t believe 2021 is already halfway over! Can you? I’ve been really busy with classes, new projects, and a brand new show at City Art Gallery in San Francisco. Here’s a look at the new pieces.

My Gallery wall at City Art Gallery.

My Gallery wall at City Art Gallery.

It was fun show to do with a little less Pandemic worries than my show in the fall. I definitely feel a bit lighter this time around. Things seem like they are going back to normal (well kinda…maybe …). The gallery had our first art opening since Covid-19 hit 15 months ago and I was happy to see some familiar faces and finally talk to my fellow artists and friends in person. It makes such a huge difference to really connect to people.

As for the pieces themselves, I created a small series of taxidermy-inspired pieces. I am super inspired by history, nature, and animals so what better way to pay tribute to that than taxidermy? Well, there is the death part which I’m not a huge fan of but I loved painting these creatures as if they existed in my very dark and gothic haunted house. Here they are:

Debra Styer, The Owl and the Greenman, 2021

Debra Styer, The Owl and the Greenman, 2021

Debra Styer, The Domed Jay, 2021

Debra Styer, The Domed Jay, 2021

Debra Styer, Bobcat in Blue, 2021

Debra Styer, Bobcat in Blue, 2021

The larger paintings were inspired by the loveliness and lightness of nature and the darkness that can follow. The Goth Girl in me went a little crazy this time but I had a wonderful time telling these little stories.


Debra Styer, Blossoms, 2021

Debra Styer, Blossoms, 2021

“Blossoms” is my ode to my kitties who truly helped me through the craziness of the pandemic and life. I don’t have kids so they are indeed my furbabies.


Debra Styer, From the Underneath, 2021

Debra Styer, From the Underneath, 2021

“From the Underneath” was inspired by a recent camping trip where there was so much seaweed (pondweed?), that I questioned there must be something or someone hiding underneath.


Debra Styer, The Gift, 2021

Debra Styer, The Gift, 2021

This one, “The Gift”, was a a little ode to folktales and little tiny people that are found in the forest.


Debra Styer, A Gothic Tale, 2021

Debra Styer, A Gothic Tale, 2021

And this last one, “A Gothic Tale”, was my favorite to illustrate. I tend to live in a bit of a dream world and this one got a little too close for comfort. And I am sure these sweet little ravens, will do nothing but Squawk and wake up our dear reader just in time for her lovely dinner and glass of wine that’s waiting for her, right?


This world pandemic has been just so awful, but there has to be something we can find positive in all the craziness. I think it has made everyone stop and look around at their lives and really see how they have been living. I suppose this year, I was given a little gift of time with my artist self to see where I wanted to go. Although, I am still working things out, by direction feel a little more clear. Does it feel that way to you, too? I feel like the world has been shaken up and now we need to put ourselves upright again, I hope we are all able to stand up stronger, whatever we do.

Thank you for reading, I hope you like the new paintings. They will be on view at the gallery from July 2nd to August 1st, 2021 at City Art Gallery (828 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA).

New Work..The Four Elements and the Moon, Sun and Stars!

I am so excited to show you all my newest portraits! I have eight new paintings from my recent show at City Art Gallery in San Francisco!

The first series (the larger pieces) are based on the four elements…Earth, Wind, Fire and Water

The second series is and ode to the Sun, Moon and Stars.

Bonus painting: In Bloom.

All of the paintings are done in watercolor and gouache paints.

Here’s my wall at the gallery!

Here’s my wall at the gallery!

My apologies for not getting this post up earlier, May was a very busy month.

Here are the new paintings!

City Art Gallery EARTH BLOG.jpg

For Earth, I was inspired by the Renaissance and their stiff collars, and the business of bees.

Debra Styer, The Queen of the Bees, 2019

Art Print available here!

City Art Gallery FIRE BLOG.jpg

For the Fire Element, was inspired by the Victorian beauty and the ugliness and total destruction of the California wildfires.

Debra Styer, Waiting with the Ashes, 2019

Print available here in my shop.

City Art Gallery Wind BLOG.jpg

My Wind portrait was inspired by the Medieval Era and the strength of women.

Debra Styer, Leaning into the Wind, 2019

Print available here.

Floating with the Lilies Cropped.jpg

My Water portrait was inspired by the Edwardian era and focusing on the power of relaxing and letting of all the things that pull us down.

Debra Styer, Floating with the Lilies, 2019 (detail)

Print available here in my shop!

For the Sun…

For the Sun…

Debra Styer, Her Face in the Sun, 2019

City Art April 2019 MOON.jpg

Moon Love…

Debra Styer, The Moon and Mr. Fox, 2019

With a Crown of Stars…

With a Crown of Stars…

Debra Styer, With Her Head in the Stars, 2019

A salute to Dahlias and the 1930’s…

A salute to Dahlias and the 1930’s…

Debra Styer, In Bloom, 2019

I hope you like them! Prints will be available soon.