Today we’d like to introduce you to Deborah Lynn Irmas.
Deborah Lynn, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My art story began very early. My mother was an artist and she taught me many things. But the one thing I knew for sure was that I loved art as much as she did.
Everyday, I would come home from school and watch my mom paint. I was enamored with shapes, colors and patterns. As time went by, I was ready to begin my studies at UCLA. Luckily, I was able to become a PSGA major (Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts). UCLA was filled with incredibly talented teachers and my art journey began. After graduating, I became a graphic designer for a decade. However, my love for fine art was so strong that I eventually went back to my roots as a fine artist. I began with figurative work and printmaking. At some point, within the last 10 years, I found my true art identity with mixed media abstraction. Within the last two years, I discovered scotch tape as my main form of expression. I love working with materials that have a use that’s far different than planned. Scotch tape has allowed me to create my “Unbroken” series. I keep growing and morphing with my art in each passing day. I could not go a day without being an artist. It is my true nature.
Luckily for me, my love for art has stayed as the one constant in my life.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Well, life is not a smooth road! And neither is art! The life of an artist is a struggle. I have not met one artist that didn’t have some sort of struggle as part of their story. But it is part of the package as with all things in life. The key is to be thankful that art is your passion. As my mentor, the very talented and incredibly smart Tom Wudl always says… “do your work genuinely and I promise you someone will take notice”. And “creativity is the one free thing in life”. How very lucky to be an artist.
For artists starting their journey, worry about your art and not about selling. People will take notice and you will be proud of your work. Your work is your identity. So, listen to yourself and not others. Be confident enough to weather the storms and keep your creativity alive. It is a life of passion… both incredible and difficult at the same time.
Please tell us about your business.
As I mentioned earlier, I work primarily with scotch tape. I would call it an applied art form. Taking an everyday, functional object and turning it into a thing of beauty… or something aesthetically pleasing. However, it is not the only art form I do. I also work with lines and paint. If I had to categorize my work, I would say my art is an applied art form, abstract and minimal. Being an artist is being a part of a community. I look at my life as an artist as a connection to other creative people. Without each others ideas and creativity, I would not be able to be who I am. All artists who have come before me and those with me now have all contributed to my journey. Without art history and its many movements and creative thinkers, I would not be an artist. We are all connected to each other. My scotch tape is a perfect example of connectedness in its very nature as a tape product. But more fascinating, it connects me to other creative souls.
Who have you been inspired by?
There have been so many that have inspired me in my life. My number one is my mom. A talented artist and a beautiful soul… and the one person that taught me everything. I am also inspired by many women artists especially Eve Hesse, Agnes Martin and most recently Rosemarie Castoro… all for being pioneers with their unique vision and determination. However, these are just to name a few. There are so many incredible artists that have laid the groundwork for other artists and have ultimately changed art forever.
Contact Info:
- Website: deborahlynnirmas.com
Image Credit:
Deborah Lynn Irmas
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