Debra J. Groesser » About the Artist

Debra Joy (D.J.) Groesser

Original Paintings and Limited Edition Prints

Debra Joy Groesser was born in England and has lived in the Ralston, Nebraska area since 1970. Debra has had a great love of art since early childhood. She received her BFA degree in painting from Bellevue University, Bellevue, Nebraska in 1978. She worked as a graphic artist six years after college, then free-lanced for the next three years. After a career "detour" into real estate sales, she returned to her art full time in 1996, operating Groesser Art Studio out of her home. The following year, with the support and encouragement of her husband, Don, she opened Windsong Gallery and Studio (now Debra Groesser Fine Art), which houses her studio/gallery.

Debra paints a wide variety of subjects from landscapes and figurative to still life and wildlife. Inspired by her studies with such renowned artists as Kevin Macpherson, Scott Christensen, Kim English, Kenn Backhaus and John Cosby, Debra's main focus is plein air landscape painting in oils. Plein air painting gives her the opportunity to combine her love of the outdoors, nature and travel with her love of oil painting. Debra works with a limited palette of about five colors plus white. She loves the challenge of capturing the light and atmosphere in her subjects and strives to render mood and emotion in her work.

Debra has won many awards for her artwork on the local, state and national level. She has participated in juried and invitational shows across the country, including the Salon International 2008 and 2009 Exhibitions at Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, Montgomery Museum of Fine Art Auctions, Oil Painters of America Central Region Juried Exhibitions, American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibitions, Carmel Art Festival, and Door County (Wisconsin) Plein Air Festival. She has illustrated three children's books. Debra is a frequent speaker at local organizations, libraries and schools on a variety of art subjects. She has taught art classes and workshops for nearly 15 years at her studio, and currently teaches for Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha.

Debra is a signature member of the National Academy of Professional Plein Air Painters, American Impressionist Society, Plein Air Artists Colorado, and Nomadas del Arte. She is an associate member of Oil Painters of America, Landscape Artists International, American Women Artists, and American Plains Artists. Her artwork hangs in numerous private and corporate collections across the US and in England, Ireland, Turkey and New Zealand.

Debra is represented by SouthWind Gallery, Topeka, Kansas; and Mountainsong Galleries, Carmel, California. In Nebraska, her work is available through The Designers, Omaha; Soaring Wings Winery, Springfield; and Debra Groesser Fine Art, Ralston.

Deb shares her life with her husband Don, their five grown children, five grandsons, infant granddaughter and her little Pomerian, Picasso, alias Pico the wonder dog.