Mixed Media Art by Debi Heyck on Display at the Ocean County Library Jackson Branch

JACKSON TOWNSHIP – With imagination, wit, and paint, Debi Heyck turns ordinary seashells into decorative conversation pieces and collectors’ items. Debi employs the same zest when she applies her talents to canvas. Her works will be on display throughout the months of March and April at the Ocean County Library Jackson Branch.

“Shells from the Jersey Shore and More” illustrates the Jackson resident’s ability to transform the mundane into the magical. Debi’s paintings will occupy the Branch’s meeting room and her shell art will fill the display cases. Her works have appeared in the Trenton City Museum, Trenton’s Art All Night and juried shows under the aegis of the Ocean County Artists Guild.

Debi’s passion for painting developed in her teens. She earned an Associate’s degree in Fine Arts at Mercer County Community College in Trenton, and applied her skills at commercial firms and porcelain studios.

“I found my niche in the satellite industry, doing epoxy, tape and paint applications for space-ready hardware,” Debi said. She painted in free time while learning computer graphics. Raising a family in Ocean County, Debi and her then-toddler frequented the beaches, where they searched for shells, driftwood, sea glass, and other “treasures.”

“I loved the patterns and forms of the shells,” she said. “When my shell collection grew big enough, I learned to enhance them with my own style of craft. I enjoy decoupage, pouring clear resins, and painting.”

“Since ancient times, people have been intrigued by the bounty of the ocean. Shells last forever,” Debi said. “I hope you enjoy looking at these as much as I enjoyed making them.”

“Shells from the Jersey Shore and More” is free and open to the public during regular Branch operating hours. No registration is required to view the display. For more information, visit the OCL Jackson Branch, 2 Jackson Drive, or call (732) 928-4400. See the full schedule of Library programs in the online Calendar of Events.

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