Evoking memories, the paintings of Deborah Quinn-Munson bring us to serene and restful places with distant horizons and peaceful surroundings. Her pastels and oils are tranquil depictions of nature. Deborah finds inspiration in water, reflections, marsh and sea grass and grew up near the water. Touches of glimmering light build a deep, meditative rhythm in her paintings. Loving bold color and energetic brush strokes, Quinn-Munson explores the contrast between nature’s strength and its gentler side. “When I paint, I am interested in bold color, energetic line and strong composition to convey a powerful image filled with atmosphere and light.  Expressive brush and pastel strokes have become an important aspect of my work and bring vitality and movement to the painting. I enjoy the contrast between a brisk painting process and the scene’s quiet beauty."

Deborah Quinn-Munson has won numerous prestigious awards in juried competitions, including:
  - Best of Show, International Association of Pastel Societies Exhibition
  - Best of Show, National Juried Exhibition, Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod
  - Great American Artworks Award, Pastel Society of America

Quinn-Munson’s paintings have been published in Pure Pastel, "Contemporary Works by Today’s Top Artists," edited by Anne Hevener, Copyright, 2019 by F & W Media

Her paintings have also been published in The Artist’s Magazine and Pastel Journal, highlighting her work in both oil and pastel.

Her private and corporate collectors include:
  - Smilow Cancer Center at Yale-New Haven Hospital
  - Pfizer
  - Aetna
  - Lankenau Medical Center
  - Bridgeport Hospital
  - Middlesex Memorial Hospital
  - Connecticut Bank and Trust
  - Emerson Resort and Spa
  - Campbell’s Soup Company Headquarters

“I make art because it allows me to be most nearly myself. It is the foundation upon which I share how I see the world around me. My studio, with its smell of paint, familiar clutter, and the invitation to begin anew, is the door that opens into my into my imagination.”

Quinn-Munson earned Master level designation in the International Association of Pastel Societies and is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America. She was awarded Best of Show, Prix de Pastel a Juried Exhibition. Additionally, she received a top award in the Pastel Society of America Show, Enduring Brilliance and Best of Show at Duxbury Art Complex and Museum, Paint New England. The Butler Institute of American Art included Quinn-Munson’s work in their Annual Pastel Exhibition. The Salmagundi Club and The Copley Society of Art are among Quinn-Munson’s elected memberships. She is also a member of Oil Painters of America and has been included in their National Juried Exhibitions.
After attending De Cordova Museum School, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of New Hampshire, a Master of Arts and Liberal Studies at Wesleyan University, and pursued post-graduate work at Lyme Academy of Art, where she later taught oil painting and composition.

Awards
2020 Pastel Society of America 48th Annual Exhibition, Enduring Brilliance, Pastel Societies of the West and Southwest Award for Summer Gold

2021 Master Pastelist designation with the Pastel Society of America, NYC

Richeson 75 International Art Competition, Landscape, Seascape and Architecture 2020, currently online

Memberships

Elected Artist Member, Lyme Art Association

Lectures
Composition and Design, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts
Composition and Design, Lyme Art Association
Judge and Juror, For Pastels Only, 2020

Demos:
Pastel Society of America, 2019
West Hartford Art League, 2019

Workshop Instructor, Pastel Painters of Cape Cod, 2019