Deborah Eri

Deborah Eri’s creativity comes from a place deep within her soul. “I have been self taught since I was a little girl,” she says. “My mom homeschooled me through elementary school and ingrained in me an adoration for art that I carried through my high school years.” Originally from Upstate New York, Deborah’s creativity became an emotional outlet. “I could get lost in painting for hours and find joy no matter what I was feeling when I started,” Deborah remarks. Much more than a product of happenstance, Deborah’s passion was instilled in her by the most influential person in her life. “My mom, Shirley, is my best friend and my biggest inspiration,” she elaborates. “She was an ardent creator herself and always so generous and loving to everyone around her.” After Shirley’s passing in 2022, Deborah created ‘Paintings for Shirley’. “It was a way for me to honor my mom’s legacy, create something she would be proud of, and to encourage others through art during difficult times in their own lives,” she says. With her mother’s profound influence, Deborah developed her own style. “I never really felt like I fit in because I always wanted to do something different from everyone else,” she explains. An abstract artist working with mixed media, acrylics, watercolors, and ink on surfaces like canvas, wood, paper, and even denim, Deborah embraces her identity with a deep faith in God. A member of High Tide Gallery since January 2025, she concludes, “I hope to continue making art that brings joy to myself and to all the lives I touch along my creative path.”