Debbie Sexton
MiMi's Cottage
Clarkesville, GA
I, Debbie Hicks Sexton, grew up in Decatur, GA, raised my family in Conyers, GA and have settled in Clarkesville after a job transfer for my husband, Steve, with GA Power Co. and the Grace of God!
Here in these awesome N. Ga Mountains is where "Hand Painted from MiMi's Cottage" was created 5 years ago. Art in many forms has always been a passion but settling on one form of art didn't happen until 20 years ago.
My grandmother and two great aunts passed on to me porcelain dishes that they had china painted. I have always been in awe of this art form but the use of a kiln, the "firing" process and the chemistry of it all were too much to absorb while trying to raise a family.
After children, a daughter and a son, I fell into a job working for a designer/decorator who worked for several "Tile Houses" in the metro Atlanta area. I would outline a design, and after this was fired I would fill in the colors. I would transport the "wet" tiles to be fired.
After doing this for a couple of years I had my first solo job hand painting a design on a floor in a Home Decor shop. I made enough money to purchase a kiln and start my own business.
I purchased my china paints from a very talented china painter in Lithonia, Catherine Zachary, who had studied in Europe and the US.
I finally made the commitment to learn the fine art of China Painting.
I studied under Miss Catherine for 5 years, took a five year break to keep my grandson, Tanner, and resumed classes for five more years until my move to the mountains.
My passion is painting birds and I have many subjects at my feeders. I also love to paint animals; anything with fur or feathers! I had a 200 pound bear pose for me in my backyard for about two hours while he shared birdseed last summer. Now I am trying to "fine tune" my bear paintings.
My business also includes custom gifts, house portraits, wedding plates and any and everything that can be painted on a surface that can be fired in a kiln making the design very permanent and lasting.
I am truly blessed in my talent and the inspiration that I am surrounded with .
In addition to my China/Porcelain Painting I am Hand Painting on GLASS : Custom Painting and Permanent Decorative Art using Glass Paint that is fired in a kiln.
