Art is my passion. I like to draw, but I love to paint. When Joyce and Ron Panzero, founders of Rehema Ministries, returned from a mission trip to Africa in 2007, they brought back African souvenirs for the kids in our youth group. Along with other African keepsakes, they showed some pictures of the African people they’ve come to love. Immediately I wanted to draw them. The pictures showed so much expression and character. Joyce sent several pictures home with me along with an open invitation to get more. I couldn’t wait to get started and the first couple of weeks I spent every free minute painting. During those same initial meetings, Joyce presented an idea to me. Each year they take a group to Africa for a month with them. Why don’t I go? The cost for the trip is $3,000. Why don’t I sell my paintings to raise the money for the trip? It was a great idea. I still had several months before the summer festivals. I could have a booth at Shipwreck Days and the Anacortes Arts Festival, and any other events that came up. I began painting like crazy, mostly African women and children. Even my art teacher at the high school got involved, encouraging me in my work. As the summer deadline approached, I had to stop painting and focus on getting prints and note cards made up of my art work. Between sales at the two festivals and friends and family who purchased my art, I earned the $3,000 needed for the mission trip to Africa. Excited and extremely grateful, Rebecca McDonald and I departed from Seattle, WA on October 23^rd 2008, with our final destination being Nairobi, Kenya, Africa. Joyce suggested I do my senior project on this trip. I painted a wall mural in the dining area at the Children’s Home.

        

 

Debbi during the process of painting the mural.

Here is Debbi selling her paintings during the Arts and Craft Fair.