“Fall Riot” by Debra Laurie of Au Train was one of the pieces selected. She recently answered some questions about her work.

Q: How long have you been making art? Have you had any formal training?

A: I have been an artist almost all my life. I have taken many art courses, attended several painting workshops and participated in several online workshops as well.

Q: Where are you from and where do you live now?

Debra Laurie, a visual artist originally from Illinois, smiles next to a painting of hers. Laurie's work "Fall Riot," not shown, won a Media Award from the Daily Press during this year's Northern Exposure at the Bonifas. (Courtesy photo)

A: I am from Waukegan, Ill. I reside now, in Au Train, Mich. I have lived here for 23 years.

Q: What mediums do you work with?

A: Decades ago, I was a realistic pen and ink artist. Artists evolve, as does their curiosity of exploring new media and ways to make art. Watercolor was my choice 20 years ago, for realistic landscapes. In the past few years, oil and cold wax; as well as acrylic paints have become my focus. I am moving more towards abstracted landscapes.

Q: How did you get into this method used in “Fall Riot” — watercolor batik on rice paper?

A: Years ago, I read an article in a watercolor magazine about watercolor batik on rice paper. I was fascinated by the technique, and of not being totally in control of the outcome.

Debra Laurie's "Fall Riot" on a gallery wall in the William Bonifas Fine Arts Center next to tags that indicate it won the Daily Press Media Award at this year's Northern Exposure exhibition and was purchased by Thrivent Financial.

Q: Can you describe your method and process, from inspiration to carrying it out? (However brief or detailed is fine; I wouldn’t want to pressure you to divulge any trade secrets!)

A: Using rice paper, I lightly sketch my landscape. With melted paraffin wax, I save the whites. As more layers are painted, dried, and saved with melted paraffin wax, eventually the darkest areas are covered with the melted wax. The piece is then ironed between several sheets of newspaper, until all the wax has been absorbed. The revealed piece can be worked on to add additional embellishments.

Q: Also, can you talk about the scene depicted? To me it looks like the trunks of birch trees with autumn leaves of others in the background, but I’d like to hear it from you, the visionary.

A: Birch trees are favorites of mine, as is fall. Fall leads to winter, my favorite season. The colors of fall leaves, the contrasting white birches inspire me to tell a story in the language of paints, of what moved me to capture the scene.

Q: What other artworks are you proud of? Do they fit into a similar style, or would you consider your repertoire varied?

A: I was accepted into ArtPrize in Grand Rapids for a few years, and sold my paintings. All were landscapes, mostly winter scenes. Some were watercolor batiks, one was watercolor on paper.

Q: How long did it take you to produce “Fall Riot”?

A: I would guess several hours. From sketch, to paint layers, wax resist, to the ironing of the piece between newspaper to remove all the wax.

Q: Is there anywhere else people can see your work on display?

A: I have original framed paintings and prints at the Gallery On Fifth, in Calumet, Michigan.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

A: The Bonifas Arts Center is one of my favorite places. I enter the Northern Exposure Exhibit every year, and sometimes I am juried into it. I am pleased to be part of the artists accepted this year, it does inspire me to keep creating!

Laurie’s “Fall Riot” and the work of 55 others are still on display as part of the 32nd Northern Exposure at the Bonifas, 700 First Ave. S. in Escanaba. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

As part of a juried contest, each piece was submitted digitally before being selected by a juror to be brought into the gallery. More than 100 pieces from 56 artists were chosen for Northern Exposure in 2025.

The exhibit occupies both the first and second floors of the Bonifas gallery and will remain up through the end of January.