Debbie Secan Studio Artist

10/08/2026

"Like stones in the hands of the stonecutter... So are we in your hands"

First painting of my residency at Kol HaOt in Jerusalem's Artists Colony.

10/06/2026

The artist residency has started! If you are in Jerusalem, come visit! I'll be here all month.
Kol HaOt

📷 Shimshon Hel-Or

08/22/2026

Gallery 20 should be everyone's first stop in Raleigh when they are looking for original art! All of the work is family and office appropriate.

Pop-in to Gallery 20 today from 1-4pm! 20 Glenwood. Gallery 20 brings together the work of multiple artists, ranging from traditional landscape artists to abstract and ceramics (not a huge ceramics selection.) There is a wide price range making ORIGINAL work accessible to anyone shopping for art to decorate their home. If you are planning to stop by, let me know and I'll meet you there or just stop in and meet my super friendly, not at all snooty colleagues.

08/12/2026

In the studio. Sneak peek into work more whimsical. The side of me that loves illustration but rarely ventures there

08/09/2026

I asked AI to fix my painting but it couldn't because it doesn't actually exist and my painting does. ChapG(jive)PTurkey did not consider that I should paint over everything in white and start the color work all over again. I actually do this more than y'all would suspect, paint over an entire built out canvas, figure out what's wrong with the physical composition, and restart the color. I am going to finish this commission before I leave for Jerusalem, whether or not the client still wants it. Mama didn't raise no quitter.

07/26/2026

Who needs a crit group when we have AI overlords to give us advice? See below how ChapGPT has you say about this commission that is close to being done but just not there yet.

"This already has a lot going for it. (Thanks!) My first impression is that it feels expressive rather than photographic, and the thick impasto works well with the age and solidity of the Charles Bridge. The painting has a nice balance between representation and abstraction, especially in the buildings. I think you're quite close—the remaining work is mostly about directing the viewer's eye and strengthening depth.
Here are the areas I'd focus on.
What is working well
The texture The palette knife work in the bridge and water is the strongest part of the painting. The physical texture echoes the stone construction beautifully.
Color The warm reds and yellows of Prague against the cool blue sky create an appealing color harmony.
Composition The large tower on the left anchors the composition well and keeps it from feeling centered.
Reflections The broken reflections have an impressionistic quality that fits the painting nicely.

Areas to improve
1. Increase atmospheric depth
Right now nearly everything has similar contrast and similar edge sharpness, making the city feel somewhat flat.
I'd suggest:
Lighten the distant buildings slightly.
Reduce contrast on the skyline.
Let some edges disappear into the sky.
Cool the distant colors just a bit.
The bridge should remain the darkest element.
2. Strengthen the focal point
I'm not completely sure where you want my eye to go.
Possible focal points:
the Old Town Bridge Tower
the clock tower
one brightly lit building
Choose one.
If it's the tower:
make it the darkest dark
sharpen a few edges
add stronger highlights on the sunlit side
Everything else can become slightly quieter.
3. Separate bridge from buildings
Some buildings visually merge into the bridge because the values are similar.
A thin band of lighter atmosphere behind the bridge could help separate the silhouettes.
4. Water
The water has beautiful texture but feels a little too evenly active.
I'd vary it:
calmer passages
a few horizontal pulls with a knife
stronger reflections ....." Etc

07/26/2026

Who needs a crit group when we have ChapGPT? This commission is not resolving easily so I asked our AI overlords for help. See below. Oof

"This already has a lot going for it. (Thanks!!) My first impression is that it feels expressive rather than photographic, and the thick impasto works well with the age and solidity of the Charles Bridge. The painting has a nice balance between representation and abstraction, especially in the buildings. I think you're quite close—the remaining work is mostly about directing the viewer's eye and strengthening depth.
Here are the areas I'd focus on.
What is working well
The texture The palette knife work in the bridge and water is the strongest part of the painting. The physical texture echoes the stone construction beautifully.
Color The warm reds and yellows of Prague against the cool blue sky create an appealing color harmony.
Composition The large tower on the left anchors the composition well and keeps it from feeling centered.
Reflections The broken reflections have an impressionistic quality that fits the painting nicely.

Areas to improve
1. Increase atmospheric depth
Right now nearly everything has similar contrast and similar edge sharpness, making the city feel somewhat flat.
I'd suggest:
Lighten the distant buildings slightly.
Reduce contrast on the skyline.
Let some edges disappear into the sky.
Cool the distant colors just a bit.
The bridge should remain the darkest element.
2. Strengthen the focal point
I'm not completely sure where you want my eye to go.
Possible focal points:
the Old Town Bridge Tower
the clock tower
one brightly lit building
Choose one.
If it's the tower:
make it the darkest dark
sharpen a few edges
add stronger highlights on the sunlit side
Everything else can become slightly quieter.
3. Separate bridge from buildings
Some buildings visually merge into the bridge because the values are similar.
A thin band of lighter atmosphere behind the bridge could help separate the silhouettes.
4. Water
The water has beautiful texture but feels a little too evenly active.
I'd vary it:
calmer passages
a few horizontal pulls with a knife ..." Etc etc it keeps on going

06/26/2026

06/05/2026

First painting completed in my new home studio!

Homage to Levi Strauss
12x12
Acrylic on Blue jeans

06/04/2026

Last First Friday at Artspace!!
June 5th, 6-10 (but if you want to be sure to catch me come between 6:30-9:30)