Although known primarily for her portrait work, Deborah Holcombe, artist,sonographer, and collector of curious objects, is a Renaissance woman whose recent work is taking her classical training outside the box.
For the past year, Holcombe has been working in her studio creating "The Refraction Series". In this still life work, the paint is applied to the canvas based on the visual observations of refraction and light. These paintings join together everyday objects, such as a tea towel, a bread knife and glass objects, such as wine bottles and glasses, but there are elements of discord in these paintings: Why is the wine glass toppled? How did the glass break? Was the knife used for more than slicing bread? The mystery of unseen actions in these paintings creates both a narrative and questions for the viewer.
Prior to beginning on "The Refraction Series" Holcombe created a body of work inspired by the rediscovery of her Christian faith. These paintings are an examination, through religious iconography, of the struggle of Spirit and paint. The painting technique is influenced by artists such as graphic novel illustrator Frank Miller and medical illustrator Frank Netter.
Holcombe, born and raised in Hopewell, NJ, spent a decade in New York City before moving to a New York City suburb where she lives a family-and-art oriented life with her spouse, two wards and an eclectic menagerie of rescued pets. She is a collector of children's books, vintage medical illustrations and scary antique medical instruments. Her appreciation of science and anatomy has also been applied to her work in Diagnostic Ultrasound and Vascular Sonography. Holcombe has traveled extensively, including living and studying art in Rome, Italy. Once a year, Holcombe creatively recharges on the scenic island of Vieques, Puerto Rico.
Holcombe is a graduate of Tyler School of Art, Temple University with a BFA and has exhibited in many solo and group shows. Numerous paintings and commissions are in private collections.