Artist Statement

I feel deeply grateful to spend my life observing and painting the world around me. Working in oil, both en plein air and in the studio, I am continually inspired by the beauty and atmosphere of coastal and maritime life—the shifting light across the water, weathered harbors, working boats, and fleeting moments that can never be repeated in quite the same way again.
Painting on location since 1998 has taught me to slow down and truly see. Much of my work is created from direct observation, often from the deck of my sport fishing boat, Grouper, where I experience firsthand the ever-changing relationship between sky, sea, and light. These moments are immediate and temporary, and I try to capture them with honesty, simplicity, and expressive brushwork.

I believe plein air painters serve as quiet conservationists and historians of place. Through our work, we document landscapes, coastlines, harbors, and traditions that are constantly changing or disappearing altogether. A painting becomes more than a record of a location—it preserves a moment in time, an atmosphere, and a way of life that may not exist in the future.

I remain continually humbled by the opportunities to paint, travel, teach and connect with others through art. More than anything, I hope my work encourages viewers to pause, look more closely, and appreciate the beauty and transience of the world around them.

Biography

Debra Huse is an award-winning American oil painter recognized for her luminous color, confident brushwork, and a refined sensitivity to light and atmosphere. Working both en plein air and in the studio, her paintings capture the transient beauty and quiet drama of coastal and maritime life.

Painting on location since 1998, Huse has participated in prestigious plein air events nationwide. Her maritime lifestyle deeply informs her work, often painting directly from the deck of her sport fishing boat, Grouper, where she observes and interprets the shifting relationships of light, water, and sky with immediacy and authenticity.

Her work has been included in over 30 museum exhibitions, reflecting both its technical distinction and enduring impressionist appeal.

An accomplished instructor, Huse teaches workshops across the United States and internationally, including Italy and France. Through her online academy, PaintLikeAPro.us, she has guided thousands of artists worldwide with an extensive library of over 80 on-demand courses.

She maintains a working studio in a Newport Beach, California boatyard. Her work and expertise have been featured in Fine Art Connoisseur, Plein Air, Southwest Art, Modern Impressionist, and Art of the West Magazines.

Affiliations and Memberships

American Society of Marine Artists, Signature Member

American Impressionist Society, Signature Member

Laguna Plein Air Painters, Signature Member & Emeritus Board of Directors

Pastel Society of America, Signature Member

Dean’s Advisory Council, Indiana University Eskenanzi School of Art, Architecture & Design

California Art Club

Hoosier Salon

Oil Painters of America, Signature Member

Southern California Plein Air Painters, Founding Member

Scholarships and Bachelor Degree

1971 John Herron Art School (Scholarship age 12)
1979 Indiana University, School of Fine Art
2021 Dean’s Advisory Council for Indiana University Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design.

“Debra Huse takes a loving look at the quintessential California lifestyle: the beaches, boats, gardens, and people, all partaking of the "good life" in the Golden State. 
An astute observer of everyday life, Debra presents her subjects immersed in the
unique light and warmth of coastal Southern California. 
A true "plein air" painter, her paintings are direct and honest views of what is all around her.”              
-Mr. Jean Stern, Art Historian, Author and Lecturer

Museum Exhibitions

Debra’s work has been exhibited at
The Pasadena Museum of California Art,
Phippen Museum,
Bowers Museum
Irvine Museum,
Hilbert Museum,
Indiana State Museum,
Indianapolis Museum of Art,
Autry Museum,
Fredrick R. Weisman Museum,
Salmagundi Club of NYC,
Laguna Art Museum,
Cornell Museum of Art and American Culture,
Mobile Museum of Art,
Art Museum of Southeast Texas,
Art Museum of South Texas,
The Haggin Museum of Art,
Museum of the Southwest,
Coos Bay Art Museum,
Minnesota Museum of Art,
San Diego Maritime Museum,
Easton Maryland Academy Art Museum
Easton MD Waterfowl Museum,
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum,
Gilcrease Museum,
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
Bakersfield Museum of Art,
Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William and Mary,
Minnesota Marine Art Museum,
Maryhill Museum,
Steamboat Art Museum
and Mystic Seaport Museum.