Hello
Greetings,
My name is Deb Richmann. I am a multi-faceted teacher and artist. My work and interests take on a wide variety of subjects and my interests are endless in scope. I have experience with art, technology, and computer science.
Artist Statement
Art is from the soul and I view art as a way to make visual representations that provide the viewer with peace, joy and happiness. Art is my way to remember the past. When viewing my art, I want to bring an awareness of the beauty of nature and increased observation of the surroundings that exist around us. For this reason, much of my work will focus on flowers and landscapes. I also use my skill in calligraphy to create work that highlights sayings that inspire curiosity, reflection, and appreciation. By using a visual with the calligraphy, the art will create a message for others to inspire and relate.
Biography
My family roots link me to Sioux City, Iowa, but, my artistic story started at Iowa State University. I graduated ISU with a Bachelors of Art in Art Education. I became certified to teach K-12 art and began my journey of teaching the subject in North Carolina with grades 4-8 in a traveling art classroom. After 5 years in North Carolina, I returned to Iowa and landed in the DeWitt area where I started a a HS art teacher while the resident teacher was on sabbatical. It was here where my computer exposure was born. From this point I then moved on to the middle school level, 6-8, where I taught for at least 15 years. I became interested in using computers to generate art and other artifacts. During the last of those years, I received a Masters degree at UNI in Educational Technology and sought out as many ways to fuse technology into my art classroom. But, then, I changed to a computer classroom as the need became to teach computer skills to the students.
I taught in the computer classroom for at least 11 years and technology evolved quickly from designing powerpoint, infographics, websites, and digital products for a wide variety of purposes to developing a STEM classroom and teaching with grades K-3. It was here that I earned a teaching endorsement for Computer Science grades K-12. Eventually, in the last 2 years of teaching I returned to my art roots when I was reassigned to teach HS Graphic Design. As some say, I've come full circle. Overall, I have spent 35 years in the classroom and retired at the end of the 23-24 school year. The 24-25 school year I am semi-retired and teach only the Graphic Design 1 & 2 classes at the Central DeWitt high school.
When I was making art during my art years, I was mainly an oil pastel, calligrapher, and watercolor painter. As I moved into technology I could be found designing websites, logos, and digital images. The graphic design class I teach now has reinvigorated my love for art and I see how all the past fits together with the present.
I am working on what retirement means, but mainly find myself crafting with diamond art and spending time with my husband of 33 years and 2 cats I call my children, because they act that way. I hope to reconnect with old friends and travel eventually, but I'm not rushing into anything, just trying to enjoy what life has to offer.
