Deborah was chosen to paint at the Forbes Trinchera Ranch in Colorado, which culminated in a show at the Forbes Museum in New York City. She won the American Artist Cover Competition, and her work appeared on the cover of the Summer 2008 issue of Watercolor Magazine. She has often been a finalist in the PleinAir Salon, Splash, and ARC’s Annual Competitions. Her works are featured in the ARC 16th Annual Salon Catalog and Splash 24. Most recently, Deborah’s painting Empty Nest won “Best Watercolor of the Year” in the 13th Annual PleinAir Salon, awarded live on stage at the PleinAir Convention & Expo in Cherokee, North Carolina, in May 2024. Notable American Artist editor M. Stephen Doherty describes Deborah as “one of the most gifted artists working in the watercolor medium today. Her warm, engaging, and sensitive paintings demonstrate both her well-developed skills and her understanding of great art.” Deborah paints still life, figurative, and architectural subjects for commercial and private commissions in her studio, located in an 18th-century farmhouse in rural Connecticut, which she shares with her artist husband and their two children. Selected Exhibitions and Honors 2025 14th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition, Emily’s Peonies chosen as “Top 40 Finalist” for the year14th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition, three paintings chosen as “Semi-Finalists” for the yearArt at the Meetinghouse, 19th Annual Art Show, Roxbury, CT – “Best Watercolor”14th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition – “Best Still Life,” February 202514th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition – “Second Place Overall,” January 202514th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition – “Best Plein Air Watercolor,” January 2025 2024 Women in Watercolor – “Legion Merchandise Award” in Still Life; “Finalist” in Animal & Wildlife13th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition – Empty Nest wins “Best Watercolor of the Year”13th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition – Empty Nest named one of the “Top 30 Finalists” for the year13th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition – four paintings named as “Semi-Finalists” for the yearAlmenara Art Prize – “Finalist” in Still Life categoryTop Art Awards Masters Show – “Award of Excellence” and “Finalist Award,” Summer 202413th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition – “Third Place Overall,” March 2024Splash 25: The Best of Watercolor Annual Competition – “Finalist,” Artist’s MagazineSusan Powell Fine Art, Maine Stories, Madison, CT 2023 Places of Kent Exhibition – Curator and Exhibitor, October 202313th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition – “Best Still Life,” August 2023Susan Powell Fine Art, Summer in New England, Madison, CT13th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition – “Best Animal & Birds,” May 202313th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition – “Best Plein Air Watercolor,” April 2023Splash 24: The Best of Watercolor Annual Competition – “Finalist,” Artist’s MagazineAmerican Watercolor Society, 156th Annual International Exhibition, New York CitySusan Powell Fine Art, 20th Anniversary Show, Madison, CTKent Art Association, Women’s Invitational Show, Kent, CT 2022–2023 16th International ARC Competition – “Finalist” in Animal category 2022 41st Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors, Old Forge, NY, August/September 2022Susan Powell Fine Art, Spring Into Art, Madison, CTSusan Powell Fine Art, Valentine Gems, Madison, CT 2021 40th Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors, Old Forge, NY, August/September 202110th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition – “Finalist,” April 202110th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition – “Best Outdoor Still Life,” February 2021Susan Powell Fine Art, Spring Into Art, Madison, CTInternational Watercolour Masters Competition – “Finalist, Highly Commended,” Lilleshall, EnglandSusan Powell Fine Art, Valentine Gems, Madison, CT15th Annual ARC Salon Competition – “Finalist” in Still Life and Animal categoriesA.R.T. (Artist’s Resource Trust) – Grant recipient for individual artists working in New England 2020 9th Annual PleinAir Salon – “Best Watercolor,” November 2020