Debbie Bakker is a returning student who recently cultivated a love affair with all things drawn. She holds three university degrees, the last of which she received in 1981.
She moved to California from the Toronto and Montreal area in 1984, with her husband who works in high tech. Bakker has dual citizenship in Canada and the United States.
As a reading specialist and an elementary school teacher, she says, “I have always been creative, constantly creating things ranging from making theatrical costumes for local community theater to sewing my children’s clothing.”
A few years ago, Bakker had to go back to work, and the opportunity came up to explore art as a second career. She began taking a beginning drawing class at De Anza College and “absolutely fell in love with drawing.”
She is currently enrolled in the bachelor of fine arts program at the Academy of Art in San Francisco, but is simultaneously taking classes at De Anza because of the “wonderful teachers, such as Juliana Kang, and all the great extra practice.”
While pursuing a degree in illustration, she’s specifically interested in illustrating children’s literature.
She says, “My [ambition] would be to move into pen and ink drawing. I love to draw, with great finite detail, historical buildings, wineries, sketches of downtown scenes, old farmhouses, and country roads.
“I don’t want to paint portraits or landscapes. I want to paint downtown Los Gatos on the weekend, showcasing its many beautiful buildings, trees and people sitting around sipping their morning coffee.”
One artist who intrigues her is John Stoeckly. “Two years ago, I saw a piece by John Stoeckley and just loved his work, bought one of his pieces and was inspired.”
This summer, Bakker plans to travel to Louisiana and Missouri in order to study with Stoeckley.
Two of Bakker’s pieces will be featured in the Spring Student Art show May 21 to June 14 at the Euphrat Museum, located on campus.
The two pieces are “Fast Food Nation” and “Thoughts on Life.”