Biography

Debbie Mayfield's journey to professional artist was destined, yet not direct. Her original ambition was to work at Kay's Kastle Ice Cream parlors like her grandmother had once done.

After two years of executing the bulk of her work in watercolors or oil, Debbie has recently been exploring the world of acrylics. She is reveling in the fluidity, permanence, and rich colors available with 21st century acrylic technologies.

Debbie has been drawn to creative pursuits for most of her life though not always to positive acclaim. In 1961, at the age of two, her series of life drawings, while provocative, were not well received by her mother. Both parents were even less enthusiastic regarding her solo exhibit of pencil drawings she created to celebrate their moving into a new home in Valleybrook in 1963. However, they did continue to support her artistic bent with generous quantities of paper, coloring books, fresh crayons, and play-dough.

In 1997, Debbie began pursuing her artistic dreams in earnest. She served an apprenticeship under artist, Vicki Daniel White, owner of Studio II Art Center in Chattanooga,TN. While there Debbie developed her watercolor techniques and taught both adult and children's art classes.

Some detours along Mrs. Mayfield’s path include graduating at age twenty from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a B.S. in psychology; attending Texas Christian University on a full golf scholarship; and passing the Tennessee Bar exam in 1983 after receiving a J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Mrs. Mayfield has been married for thirty years to Jeff Mayfield. They have two daughters Dorie and Katie Mayfield, and two godchildren Jessica and Justin Smith.