D Putnam Art
Deb Putnam
As a plein air artist living in South Boston, I find a limitless source for my paintings. Sunny days you will find me painting on neighborhood street corners or in downtown Boston. When painting outdoors is not possible, I work in my South Boston studio on larger scale paintings, portraits and other figurative works.
What interests me most about plein air city painting is how sunlight breaks up form when it falls on an object. I see the city as an urban canyon where shadows caused by the surrounding buildings create an unexpected pattern of dark and light. When working in this manner time is of the essence and I must return to the outdoor location at the same time each day for the short period of time when the sun and shadows are at the same angle and position. There is something extraordinary about working outdoors in the city, hunting a site, being immersed in the noise and action as well as interacting with the community.
With my choice of subject matter such as old buildings and nightscapes I hope to pay homage to a disappearing landscape. It is a common occurrence for my chosen subject matter to be a victim of urban renewal after I paint them. In my portrait, figurative painting and old photograph inspired work I hope to celebrate both an intimate and universal moment in time for the viewer. The shared experience of family and mealtime makes a frequent appearance in these works.
My oil paintings can be found in local art exhibitions and on-line at Saatchiart.com ,
I hold a BFA in painting from Mass College of Art, member of the Quincy Arts Association and the Portrait Society of America.
Current and Past Exhibitions (last 11 years)
- 2023,2022,2021,2020,2019,2018,2017 MassArt Juried Auction, Boston, MA
- 2022 Faye Chandler Emerging, Scollay Square Gallery, Boston MA
- 2022 Arts Affair on the Square, Quincy, MA
- 2022 Q Gallery, Quincy MA
- 2022,2019 Quincy Arts Affair
- 2021 Marina Bay Arts Affair, Virtual Exhibit, Quincy MA
- 2021 New England Collective XI Juried Exhibition, Galatea Fine Art, Boston MA
- 2020 Focus on Figure Juried Show, North River
- 2019 Nourish - MassArt 5th Alumni Biennial, Mass College of Art, Boston, MA
- 2019 BCEC South Boston Show
- 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015,2014Massasoit Juried Art Festival
- 2017 QAA Nude Figure Show, Crane Library, Quncy MA
- 2017 BNN Studio, Boston MA Portrait - and the story behind it!" l
- 2016 BNN Studio, Boston Ma
- 2016 Faye Chandler Exhibit, Boston City Hall
- 2016 Patriot Place Gallery, Foxboro Ma
- 2016 Arts Around the Corner Gallery, Boston Ma
- 2016 South Boston Open Studios
- 2015 Quincy Art Festival, Quincy MA
- 2015, 2014 Artists Crossing Gallery, Boston MA
- 2015, 2014 Boston Convention and Event Center, Boston Ma
- 2014 Front Street Gallery, Scituate, MA
- 2014 Boston City Hall, SBAA Group Show
- 2013 Akillian Gallery, Massasoit Community College, Canton, MA
- 2013 The Gallery at Patriot Place, Foxboro, MA
- 2012 Carscapes, Walter Greer Gallery, Hilton Head, SC
- 2012 Spoke Gallery, Boston, MA
- 2012 Scituate Art Assoc. Juried Show
AWARDS AND HONORS
2022 Best over 50, Faye Chandler Emerging, Boston City Hall
2021 Best in Show, Arts Affair, Marina Bay, Love and Remembrance
2019 3rd place, Arts Fest, Quincy Ma, Massasoit Music
2019 1st place Arts Affair, Marina Bay, He Greets the Day
2019 2nd place Massasoit Arts Fest Canton MA, The Muses
2018 Best in Show Quincy Arts Fest Waiting at Castle Island
2018 2nd Place Massasoit Arts Fest Canton MA, Out of the Blue
2017 Best in Show Massasoit Arts Fest Canton MA, More than Buildings
2016 1st place Quincy Arts Fest "Rainy Day"
• 2015 Best in Show, Massasoit Arts Fest, Canton, Ma Company
2015 Best in Show, Quincy Arts Festival, Quincy Ma Matter of Time - 2nd prize-Mass Ave Beauty
• 2014 First Prize, Massasoit Arts Fest, Canton, Ma AP
• 2013 First Prize, Quincy Art's Fest, Quincy Ma, Eve
• 2013
First Prize, Massasoit Art's Fest, Canton Ma Path to Forgiveness
• 2012 First Prize, Quincy Art's Fest, Quincy Ma, Chinatown View
• 2012 Second Prize and Honorable Mention, Massasoit Arts Festival, Canton, Ma "The Gathering" and “Self Portrait (When can I go out to paint?)"
• 2012 Best in Show, SAA Juried Exhibition, Front Street Gallery, painting "In the Land of Giants"
• 2011 Best in Show, Massasoit Art Festival, Canton, Ma, painting "Alida's Vision"
• 2010
First Prize, Quincy Arts Festival, Quincy Ma, painting "Cale"
• 2010 Third Prize, Arts Affair, Marina Bay, Quincy, Ma, painting "The Few, The Proud”
• 2010 First Prize, Massasoit Art Festival, Canton, Ma, painting "Fred"
• 2009 First Prize Painting, Quincy Arts Festival, Quincy, Ma, painting "Muls"
• 2009 Third Prize Painting, Arts Affair, Marina Bay, Quincy, Ma painting "Gate C"
• 2009 City's Choice Award, Downtown Crossing Juried Art Competition, Boston, Ma painting "Mul's"
• 2009 Third Prize, The Winter Juried Show, Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, Ma painting "Fred"
Publications
EDUCATION
• BFA Painting, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, Ma
Continuing Ed
Realist Academy, Boston Ma
Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Ma
Fort Point Studios, Boston Ma
Mass College of Art, Boston, Ma
Museum School, Boston Ma
MEMBERSHIP
• Quincy
Art Association
- Portrait Society of America
All artwork on this website is the original work of Deb Putnam. It is copyrighted to Deb Putnam and, as such, is protected by US and International Copyright laws. Do not use without permission.