Debra Woodward has been a painting student of Adeline Goldminc-Tronzo in Eliot, Maine, since April 2021. She is a gallery member of the Seacoast Artist Association in Exeter, NH, where she serves on their Board of Directors as Vice President and publicist. She is a juried member of the NH Art Association in Portsmouth, NH, where she previously served on the Board. In October 2019, she had her first Body of Work show of oil paintings there, entitled “Not Too Late.” Her painting “June 20, 2020” (here) was accepted into their 2021 Lassonde Open Juried Exhibition, as was her painting “Vaucluse” in 2020.
Debra began studying oil painting with Amesbury (MA) oil painter Bob Richardson in 2017, and in October 2018, two of her paintings were accepted into the Newburyport Art Association’s Annual Fall Members Juried Show. Most recently, her “Mrs. Shapiro Makes the Latkes” was accepted into their 25th Annual Regional Juried Show. Her abstract oil “Chickens in My Forsythia” was accepted in their Winter 2021 juried exhibit. Debra’s photographs were accepted into their 2019 Fall Members Juried Show and 2016 Open Annual Juried Show, and in 2014, her “Purple Blanket” was awarded Best in Photography at their Winter Juried Exhibition.
Debra has also taken four courses with Tom Glover at Sanctuary Arts in Eliot (ME) and drawing classes with Susan Spellman in Newburyport (MA). She has exhibited at the League of NH Craftsmen Annual Fair at Sunapee; Firehouse Gallery in Newburyport, MA and Alpers Fine Art in Andover, MA; Exeter Inn; several local libraries and eating establishments as well as the NH Children’s Museum and New England Center for Photography at Camera Commons, both in Dover, NH.
An avid photographer since childhood, Debra studied for six years with photographer Robert Chiller of West Newbury, MA. In 2014, Debra and Mr. Chiller shared an exhibit titled “The Moment It Clicked: The Mentor-Mentee Relationship in Photography” at the NH Art Association’s East Gallery. Her work has been accepted into the NHAA Parfitt Photography Exhibition. She was also accepted into their Lassonde Open Juried Exhibitions in 2015, 2016, 2020, and 2021; as well as the annual Joan L. Dunfey Memorial Juried Exhibitions in 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2018. In 2017, her photograph “Escargot” won Honorable Mention. Her 2017 solo exhibit entitled “Tuscan Laundry” was followed by a well-reviewed show, “Café Life,” shared with oil painter Peggy Murray of Lee. Her painting “Exeter After the Rain” was featured in the June-July 2021 issue of the magazine Art New England.
A NH native, Debra worked in the book business for 40 years, including seven as a buyer for Barnes and Noble in New York City. She lives in Seacoast, NH, with her husband of 35 years, Terry Dostie, and three fun felines. She can be reached at woodwardda@aol.com.