About the Artist

Philosophy

As an expression of her combined experience in fine arts and architectural design, Debra once again finds her artform at the intersection of  visual expression, and communication with a purpose, - that being to reflect the majestic beauty of her home, its landmarks natural and built, and tell the stories of its people past and present, and interpret the region’s sense of place.

The following quote represents her deep understanding of art, architectural philosophy, phenomenology, and her love of the human spirit.

“If we align ourselves with the spirit of place, Genius Loci, we will find humility fused with joy. 

The land holds stories. Loving the land. Honoring its mysteries.

Acknowledging, embracing it’s Spirit of Place, there is nothing more legitimate and nothing more true.

That is why we are here. That is why we do what we do.”                                                                                                     

Terry Tempest William

DEBRA NICHOLS, a Carmel native and fourth generation Carmel resident, is deeply inspired by the profound beauty of her family’s longtime home. The rich legacy of regional art history was ever present throughout her life experiences, social interaction, and education.  These influences, visually foundational and emotionally formational, had a tremendous impact on Debra’s art and design career.  

Debra’s education was focused on fine arts from the earliest years, earning scholarships and awards from local private schools. She was juried into the Art Department at University of California Davis in 1971 and studied under Wayne Thiebauld, Roy de Forest, Robert Arneson, William Wiley, and Manuel Neri. She graduated with a BA in Design.

With a strong art background Debra’s 45 yearlong professional career focused on large scale architectural signage and graphics, as Associate Partner at the international architecture firm Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, SF. Establishing Debra Nichols Design in 1991, Debra was awarded commissions by a broader range of worldwide architects. With a staff of 10 in her gold rush era office in San Francisco’s Barbary Coast, she continued to design large-scale architectural signage programs for museums, corporate and educational campuses, transportation centers, commercial developments, entertainment and sports venues, and civic institutions, worldwide.

Debra’s creative approach was grounded in problem solving and communication, but the hallmark of her solution was her belief that for a concept to truly succeed effectively, to extend the Genius Loci, Spirit of Place, and to contribute to life in a meaningful way, it must be artful.

Debra returned to her beloved Carmel in 2016 to focus full time once again on fine arts and plein air painting. She resides with her husband and 3 Labradors in her family’s heritage Carmel home, built by her father in the early 1950’s.

She has continued fine arts studies with California artists Mark Farina, Erin Gafill, Maura Carta, David Seibert, and Bill Davidson.

Professional art associations:

MBPAPA, Monterey Bay Area Plein Air Painters Association, Board Member

CCAA, Central Coast Art Association.