“Beauty is all around us, if we have eyes to see it.”

I choose to paint that which is true, pure and lovely

My Perception

My paintings are my heart’s perception of what is true, pure and lovely about life. Life can be sad and painful, but it can also be beautiful. I choose to express how innocence and beauty speak about the spiritual realm that surrounds us. My connection to God and His love is expressed in the people and animals I paint. My hope is that my art can be a bridge from the natural world to the spiritual realm and God’s love for us all.

Painting With My Father

As a young girl, I painted with my father, Herman Sillas. I was eight years old when I had my first art lesson with my father. My lessons contiunued throughout my childhood. As he painted at his easel, I painted at mine. He instructed me how to paint portraits in oil from photographs. His attempt to improve my paintings by telling me what I needed to change, were heard in my heart that I was not good enough. I know now as an adult that was not his intent, but a seed of doubt was sown in my heart. Despite getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Design from UCLA in 1981, I did not have the confidence nor courage to pursue an art career. However, in 2007 God graciously gave me a dream that changed my life. In my dream I received the message that I had the ability to “fly” with her art. I sensed God was asking me to paint for Him. He would be my audience. I said yes to that invitation and have been painting professionally ever since. Now when I paint I paint with my Heavenly Father who co-creates with me. I see my times of painting in my studio as times of worship.

My Painting Process

I love combining abstract backgrounds with realism. I use acrylic ink, spray paint and acrylic paint. The spray paint layer is unplanned and lots of fun to do. I enjoy finishing these paintings in oil paint. The oil paint gives them a depth and richness that brings them to life. I paint on stretched canvas as well as Yupo paper. I recently finished a year-long Mastery Program with Milan Art Institute. My painting skill greatly increased during the program.

I’ve recently started painting with alcohol inks and love it! The fluidity of the ink and the uncontrolable nature of them, fascinates me. I love bringing images out of the colors, and abstract textures of the ink.

I invite the Lord into my painting process by praying about what I am to paint. I’m led many times to paint children, women, lions and angels and Jesus. It is a collaboration where I have an idea when I start but I’m open to the Holy Spirit showing me new things to do along the way. Sometimes I have no idea what I am going to paint and I look for images in the paint and bring out those images by further defining them.

Painting Live on Yupo paper

One of the things I love to do is paint live at church events during the worship time. I paint on Yupo paper, a slick synthetic paper with acrylic ink and acrylic paint. I never know what I will paint when I start. I choose to look to the Holy Spirit to guide me through the music and the words of the songs in deciding the colors and brushstrokes I use. Eventually I will see an image in the paint and will then further define that image. These paintings are painted within 20-45 minutes and always have a meaning and message for those at the event.

About Deborah Nell

I’m a native of Southern California and the oldest of five siblings. I moved to East Berlin, Pennsylvania in 1998 with my husband Craig and daughter Sophia. I live in a stawbale home built by my husband, myself, and our daughter along with the help of many friends and family. I’m the proud grandmother of three children with one on the way!

Besides painting live at church services and worship events, I also give art retreats at my home and private art lessons where I teach Yupo painting techniques.

Deborah is a prolific, prophetic artist who's paintings have been purchased throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe.