09/09/2026
🎨 MAKER & ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Debra Mainwaring Studios | Debra “Debbie” Mainwaring
At 72 years old, Debbie Mainwaring will tell you she’s still learning, still experimenting and still discovering new ways to create.
And that’s exactly what makes her story special.
Debbie’s journey as an artist began with a degree in Studio Art from Mary Washington University in Virginia. Her career took her to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where she managed a gallery while continuing to create and sell her own work.
Life eventually brought Debbie and her husband to Pennsylvania when he became a professor at Washington & Jefferson College. Finding herself in a new community and looking for a new direction, Debbie did something completely different. In her 40s, she went back to school and became a teacher.
She would spend the next 21 years with the Washington School District as an art and gifted education teacher, all while continuing to create artwork of her own.
Now retired for 10 years, Debbie hasn't slowed down creatively.
Her work includes original oils, watercolors and pastels, along with prints featuring seascapes, florals and landscapes. She continues to explore new materials and techniques, and she still teaches, particularly working with senior citizens who want an opportunity to discover their own creativity.
One of her newest interests is kinusaiga, a Japanese fabric art technique that uses pieces of fabric tucked into a design to create colorful artwork without traditional sewing. Debbie has even begun developing kits that allow people to learn the technique at home.
That idea has taken on an even deeper meaning for her.
As a cancer survivor herself, Debbie was asked about art activities that could be accessible to patients during treatment without the mess and supplies that often come with traditional art projects. Her kinusaiga kits offered a possibility: something creative, approachable and easy to work on with minimal materials.
For Debbie, art isn't something you eventually finish learning.
“At 72, I’m still learning.”
That spirit is exactly what we want represented at the Makers Exchange.
We are excited to welcome Debra Mainwaring Studios and showcase Debbie's work as part of the Galleria of Fine Art @ the Makers Exchange. We’re also excited about the possibilities ahead for classes, demonstrations and opportunities for Debbie to share her knowledge with others.
Welcome to the Makers Exchange, Debbie! 🎨
