Debbie Hannah Skinner is an artist, speaker, and writer who shares the wisdom of Scripture through the medium of watercolor. Her unique presentations combine biblical teaching with colorful, original paintings that come to life on stage. Through words and images, Debbie helps women:

• Soothe a busy mind by reflecting on biblical wisdom. 
• Express creativity in new ways - even if you’re not an artist. 
• Apply biblical truth to enhance your personal and professional life. 
• Rekindle little-girl creativity with big-girl purpose. 

For over 12 years, Debbie has shared biblical wisdom through painting, speaking, and writing with women’s groups across America. Her stories have been published in books, such as God Allows U-Turns – A Woman’s Journey, Journeys of Joy, God Answers Mom’s Prayers, and The Groovy Chick’s Road Trip to Love. Her artwork has been reproduced for the Lawson Falle Voices of Faith greeting cards series and the Texas Governor’s Mansion Restoration Fund. Her original paintings are found in collections across the United States, as well as in Belarus, China, and Aruba.

Debbie is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a Masters in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has a heart for teaching and has served as a professional educator for over 14 years. She is also a member of the CLASSeminar faculty, training Christian communicators across the United States.  Debbie recognizes that her strength as a speaker comes, not from her resume, but from the grace of God at work in her life. 

Residing in west Texas, Debbie has been married to her husband, Carey, for over 26 years.  They are the parents of a wonderful daughter and son-in-law. Her passions include teaching Bible studies, adding her favorite color---purple--- into her paintings, biking, sipping coffee, and shopping for art supplies. 

My desire to share wisdom in watercolor started long before I was born.   That's when       the Lord wove into me a love for His word, art, and teaching.   I was about 5 years old when daddy snapped this photo as I played Biblestudy at the kitchen table (apparently, right after a hair washing). When I stumbled across this picture, a couple of years into my ministry, it took my breath away.  It illustrated how the Lord has laced a love for His word into me when I was a little girl. He was laying a foundation for my future when I was clueless about His plans.  I believe He put a love for the Bible inside of me for personal growth, but more so, to make me a "Bible encourager" to others.

As a third grader, my parents let me take watercolor lessons from Jean Richardson, a friend from our church. I still remember riding in Jean's Volkswagen Beetle to Eastwood Park to paint "plein air" (i.e. outside) a watercolor image of the Mari-Mar Florist shop.  Jean showed me how to make the building look like it had bricks on the side and helped me learn a little about perspective drawing.  That fall, my painting won first place in the children’s division of the West Alabama Fair.

Today, I sign all my paintings "Debbie Hannah Skinner" in honor of my parents.They recognized my artistic bent and made sacrifices to invest in art lessons for me. 

One other love I had as a child was pretending to teach.  My "classroom" was in the bathroom. My vivid imagination would use a bar of soap as chalk, a tile wall as my chalkboard, and a bathroom mirror to watch myself teach.  My dad used to knock on the bathroom door and ask, "Girl, who are you talkin' to in there?" Little did he know it was my "class." 

My journey into public speaking has been long and winding. It took 30 years for my love of the Bible, art, and teaching to come together into the shape of a ministry.  Fourteen years of that time were spent practicing my skills in classrooms in front of pubic school students.  Only five years ago did I realize the Lord had given me the ability to paint on stage while I was teaching. 

It amazes me to see how God took my little girl dreams and interests and wove these things into a big girl purpose – to point women to Christ.  I know there are thousands of women in the world with creative gifts that God has bestowed to refresh their souls and bless others in the process.  It’s an absolute joy for me to meet and encourage these women as I travel, speak, and paint around the world!       -Debbie

"I loved all of your analogies having to do with painting--- sponges, washing off acrylic vs. watercolor, etc."     -Carol, New Mexico

"Very cool to paint and speak... Thanks for speaking right from Scripture! Loved the devotion!"     -Leslie, New Mexico