Meet Debbie Gallerani | Mixed Media Artist/Sculptor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Debbie Gallerani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Debbie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I decided to move into the Fine Arts field, I had prior experience and skill to build a business after several years in graphic design and advertising. From 1989 to1994 I was the Senior Art Director at a top ad agency in Palm Springs, and designer for Palm Springs Life Magazine. I then moved to Orange County, CA in 1995 and opened my first business, Studio West Graphics. Running my own company allowed me to have full control of my time, and the ability to give my clients excellent service, without the stress of mis-management issues and general office politics. Twenty years later, I decided to make a switch to fine arts, as the onset of carpal tunnel was hindering my productivity. This venture was a huge, unexpected turnaround in mindset towards my craft. The thought process of this business became eye-opening, and a challenging learning curve. The initial challenges I had were working with not as many demanding deadlines that I was accustomed to, exploring the various art markets as to where my niche of work was appropriate, and accepting my art as a unique voice in the art world. The process was slow, and I explored, (and still do) many available avenues to develop a successful business. For example, I take online art business courses, study with seasoned art mentors, study other art and a variety of new techniques, and became a part owner of an art gallery in Tubac, AZ. for a season. With time and these experiences, my business has started to see the fruit of my labors. Another crucial factor of my business is the passion I have about my art and what I am expressing in each piece. Being able to create from the heart, and see my customers experience joy from my work is worth the time and effort.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
In this season of life, my art reflects many years of curiosity, and exploration. As a result, my art studio is multi-faceted, brimming with whimsical clay rabbit sculptures, hand carved painted wood trays painted with folk art, bold mid-century illustrations, and a variety of acrylics, mixed media paintings and color pencil drawings. Being a professional cartoonist, illustrator and graphic designer has enabled my never-ending need for variation. Over the years this intriguing fusion of methods adds to my figurative style of painting women, offering a thought provoking and sometimes quirky study. When I moved to Tucson, I became fascinated working in 3-D, and developed a series of paper maché/stone clay Jackrabbit sculptures. Each rabbit has such aa adorable face, that you can’t help but smile when you see them. My mixed media pieces are painted on beautiful hand-carved wood trays. The texture of the wood, paint and papers gives the final piece a rich and earthy feel. The latest collection I have been working on is a series of desert animals, hand illustrated in ink, with bold color added in Photoshop. These illustrations are my nod to the adoration I have for Mid-Century Modern art. Having grown up in Palm Springs in the 1960’s, this timeless contemporary style has given me an outlet to explore the incredible animals of the desert in a fashion that is new and fresh.

The road to being a professional artist was not an easy one. I see my art career in two parts. The first was my graphic design, illustrator, and cartoonist stage. I was determined and not easily deterred as scholarships, schooling and many opportunities unfortunately fell through. As the saying goes, “I worked my way from the ground up”, was verifiably true in my case. Years later, after I had worked successfully in the graphic design field, I began to feel the need to find my own voice in the arts, rather than creating what others wanted. I was also enduring constant pain in my wrist and back from the hours at the computer. Time to move on to part two. With little schooling in the fine arts, I ventured out with a courageous mindset. I was in for a shock as the world of fine arts was like stepping onto the moon. I was accustomed to creating for others to enhance their business, not create from the heart, or expose my inner soul to the world. To be honest, I kept my first paintings to myself for several years. I felt they were amateurish and were not realistic enough. Years later, I learned my own unique voice separated me from the mainstream, and accepting my style increased my confidence to be in the public eye. I also needed to refine my craft, which is a never-ending process. Each piece I work on resonates a heightened awareness, freedom, and a part of my character.

With tenacity and passion, I am thoroughly enjoying part two of my art journey. I am keeping focused, have faith in God who has blessed me with this talent, and understand that failures are bumps in the road, not dead ends.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Wow, this is tough to put together a week’s itinerary since Tucson has so much to offer. I’ve been in Tucson for only three and a half years, and because of my guests (I also run a bed and breakfast out of my home) I have acquired a list of amazing places to explore. I am also a huge supporter of local businesses, and therefore my top recommendations. With that said, let’s begin!

Day One: I live in West Tucson, so we will explore the nearby area. Breakfast at “Coyote Pause Cafe”, a cute little restaurant featuring comfort food with a Southwest twist, Located down the road from the Saguaro National Park. They feature Mesquite Pancakes, Huevos Rancheros, prickly pear lemonade and margaritas, and yummy Javelina Burgers! After breakfast, visit the “Buffalo Trading Post”, located right behind the cafe. This is a shopping (Buy, Sell, Trade) gem that is run by the same people who started the original “Buffalo Exchange” on Speedway in Tucson, and now has 40 locations across the U.S. You are guaranteed to find a treasure there! After that we will head up the road to the “Sonoran Desert Museum”. This is one of my favorite places in Tucson.  This gorgeous museum is a 98-acre zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, natural history museum, and art gallery founded in 1952. It features two miles of walking paths traversing 21 acres of desert landscape. There is also a fabulous gift shop highlighting Native American Indian art and desert gifts. After a look at the animals and gardens, we’ll head to the cafe and enjoy a casual lunch overlooking a spectacular desert view. The last venture for the day is to take a drive through the Saguaro National Park, then dinner at “Tiny’s” Restaurant and Saloon”, great local cowboy style hang-out with great steaks and burgers.

Day Two: A light breakfast at m BnB, then off to the “Tucson Museum of Art” where modern, contemporary art, Native American art, Latin American art, and art of the American West are on exhibition year-round. Lunch afterwards at the delightful “Café a la C’Art”, adjacent to the museum. Not far from there, we would do a docent tour of the “Presidio San Agustin”, a re-creation of the Tucson Presidio built in 1775. Across the street, we will enjoy a shopping spree at the “Old Town Artisans”, located on the site of El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson. This 19th-century adobe building offers shops & galleries, stocked with local crafts, a record store, vintage shop, pub, restaurant and a charming courtyard. Tired yet? I am, back to the bnb for a relaxing BBQ dinner.

Day Three: Day Three will start with a great bnb breakfast, we will then take a drive to Tombstone! It’s ok, I’ll drive! We will get to stroll down the same historic streets that Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and the Clantons walked over 140 years ago. Yee Ha! After checking out the  town, we’ll have lunch at “Big Nose Kate’s Saloon & Restaurant”, where the wild west atmosphere is larger than life! And of course, we can’t miss the reenactment show of the “Shootout at the O.K. Corral. Back in the car for a short 30-minute drive to “Bisbee”, a Free-Spirited Bohemian city with a thriving arts, music, and hospitality scene, amid a remarkably well-preserved historical mining town.  We will chill at the “Bisbee Brewing Company” which offers a great patio that overlooks one of the charming and eclectic streets, then spend the night in a cool vintage Airstream, or hippy bus, or maybe a boat……at the “Shady Dell Vintage Trailer Court”, established in 1929.

Day Four: We will head over to the town of Lowell, which was at one time a sizable mining town located just to the southeast of Old Bisbee. Now what is left is a small portion of “Erie Street”, where you feel like you just stepped out of a time machine to the 1940’s-50’s. Classic cars, vintage gas pumps and old stores line this perfect photo op place. The only thing new is our breakfast destination, the “Bisbee Breakfast Club”, which is in a historic building, originally a pharmacy and then a glass factory. We will head back to Bisbee and take in the eclectic mix of architecture that was created in the early 1900″s. The streets are lined with late-Victorian structures including Romanesque, Gothic, Classical, Carpenter, and Mission Revival styles. These buildings now house a variety of interesting shops, vintage stores, restaurants and even a haunted Hotel. After Bisbee, we’ll head back to Tucson and check out the beautiful the “San Xavier del Bac Mission”, a National Historic Landmark. Lunch afterwards at “Seis Kitchen” for their amazing street tacos. I love the fish tacos, delicious! Long day so we’ll head home and chill a bit. I won’t lie, I will probably need a nap! If we are hungry later, the Pad Thai is good at the “Ume” restaurant in the “Camino Del Sol Casino” close by.

Day Five: Time to walk off all that food and get out into nature. There are so many beautiful trails to choose from, so Tanque Verde Falls trail or the Catalina Canyon Loop, will fit the bill. After our hike, a relax at the pool, we’ll have dinner in town at “Local Neighborhood”, a modern Italian kitchen and wine shop. The historic property has a spacious outdoor dining area shaded by olive trees and touring date palms.

Day Six: Breakfast downtown at the “Historic Hotel Congress”.  Built in 1919, this hip Downtown hotel, once provided rooms to legendary bank robber John Dillinger, the interior is a rich combination of Southwest and Art Decor art. There are several bars, a music venue and a jazz club that just opened! From there, we will do a “Historical Fourth Avenue” crawl. This street has it all in a Hipster/Bohemian atmosphere. Find local artisans and boutiques, vintage clothing, jewelry, furniture, artwork, antiques, handcrafted and imported wares, hard-to-find books, and more. Plenty of eateries for lunch, drink or snack. Then off to the “Loft Cinema” to catch a independent American, foreign film, documentaries, or a classic art film currently filming. Time for dinner and unwind at “The Hub” downtown. Their food is delicious and the atmosphere lively and hip. They also have the best homemade ice cream! If there is an ounce of energy left, a stop at “The Owl Club” is a must. This is by far one of the coolest places for well-curated spirits I’ve been. Originally a Funeral Home, the 1920s structure is decorated with beautiful stained glass, chandeliers, and possesses a very cozy and rustic vibe.

Day Seven: Breakfast at “Prep and Pastry” a rustic-chic stop for baked goods, and delicious breakfast. The location on Grant has a breath-taking view of the Catalina mountains. After breakfast, off to the “Tohono Chul Gardens, Galleries, and Bistro”, deemed “One of the World’s Ten Best Botanical Gardens” by Travel + Leisure Magazine. There are 49 acres of lush desert, winding paths, soaring Saguaros, art galleries, and beautiful views to experience. Our last stop will be “DeGrazia’s Gallery in the Sun”, featuring six permanent collections of paintings tracing historical events and native cultures of the Southwest of artist Ted DeGrazia. The grounds also include the Mission in the Sun, with rock floors, interior murals, and open-air roof. The “Arizona Inn”, will be our destination for dinner, family owned and run since 1930.  The enchantment of history is felt throughout this boutique hotel, and the dining is exceptional.

That is my week of adventures in Tucson. There is so much more to see and do here, my friend will have to come back for another week, or two!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are several amazing people and institutions that have given me support in my art journey. The Borrego Art Institute in the Anza-Borrego State Park, Peter and LeeAnn Strub of The Marshall Art Gallery, Scottsdale, and Jason Horjes, owner of Zanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, with his business expertise. My mentor, who is a world-class sculptor, art mentor, author and speaker, Matt Tommey, has helped me excel in my creative process spiritually, creatively, and in the marketplace through his mentoring program. I am thankful for my art collectors across the United States, and Europe, as they appreciate my work and my vision. A huge shoutout to my talented artist friends who I have had the privilege to have worked with and been inspired by over the past years. I must include my dear friend Kris Miles, who discovered me in an Aaron Brother’s store in 2008 and gave me my first push to get my work out there! Lastly, and most enduringly are my daughters who are forever an encouragement and inspiration.

Website: debbiegalleraninart.com

Instagram: instagram.com/debbieartworld

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/debbie-gallerani

Facebook: facebook.com/theartisticworldofdebbiegallerani