How did Debbie Doodles get her name?  She tells me one of two art students, either Kiefer or Keegan, started it. With a twinkle in her eye, she gives the credit to both and loves the nickname.  It’s been Debbie Doodles ever since. (Except her grandson. He calls her Nanny Noodles. ) You may know her as Debbie Sponagle Taylor.

Looking around Debbie’s home studio in Liverpool, it is bathed in a lovely glow from the sun shining through her stained glass in the windows. Precisely the kind of Creating Space you would imagine her to have. Filled with models, paintings, books, felted creatures, a sewing machine, materials and lots of art! 

She and husband Chuck have just finished a studio reorganization to accommodate Covid safety guidelines preparing for fall art classes.  The stack of coverups will be replaced by each student receiving their own. This year there will only be two students per class.

I wish I could accomodate more, but my space is small. I am happy to still be able to teach two at a time.  Chuck and I are older. We’ve had our time to do lots but we are slowing down.  Maybe Covid will help our world get grounded to simpler things.  Maybe the world wants to get slow again.  Covid is hard on the young people, they can’t do the same things in the same way. 

Debbie is warm, friendly and easy to talk to. It is easy to see how she would make her students feel at ease.  Her passion for art is obvious.  She talks about how creativity and artistic expression has been central to her life’s journey.

I was probably in grade 4 or 5 when I was first encouraged to enter paintings at the Caledonia Exhibition. I actually won ribbons! I  wish I still had them! In those days, the back of magazines had these ads.  Draw this and you could be in demand, kind of thing.  I sent in fashion sketches and they wrote back saying I had an aptitude for art. I wasn’t really that good at math in school but  I was good at art, it made me feel special, so I kept doing it!

She and Chuck found are a wonderful match.  Both are very innovative and supportive of each other’s creativity.   Their art journey has been an interesting one. She told me about the first time she saw a Kitchen Witch for sale in the early 70s. 

Oh how I wanted one!  We couldn’t afford it, so I set out to make one. In our attic there was a bunch of factory scraps that the previous owner probably used for rug hooking. I used it for making  the bodies and  I made the head out of flour and salt dough. After a while I found a supply of clay to make heads. Friends’ bought them and away we went. We called ourselves Sea People.

Debbie has experimented with many types of art.   She and Chuck have always found ways to make a living doing what they love.  She believes that everyone has some creativity.  She talked about how this Creating Space column is obviously tapping into another part of my creativity and how fun it is to just sit and talk about art stuff.  She didn’t hesitate a moment when I asked her:  what is the best thing is about teaching children art? 

Children are like little seeds.  Full of potential.  They are not afraid of trying anything.  This (the studio) is a worry free zone.  My rules are to be kind and try. I tell them, just try and you will get better.  That is how you learn.

I have taught adults. They don’t try as freely as children do. Someone, somewhere has told them that they arent good at art.  So they often bring that baggage. But, dont worry,  they can get that spirit back, it just takes longer.  I sometimes see that when my students get to be around 12 or 13 years old. I just try to support them through this stage.  Now I find I have  that childlike freedom again.  Just doing what I love and not worrying about opinions.  Life is a circle.  

Debbie has volunteered in Queens County schools but isn’t sure if that will happen this year.  She will miss doing that for the kids. She would like to see all kinds of art being considered as more of a priority in our school system.

Art is a wonderful way to teach lifelong lessons about patience, creativity, perseverance and pride in the completion of a project. Children would benefit so much from more exposure to creative things.  In my classes,  I see how much they  learn when inspired. Somedays they even break out singing as they work. They are so happy and proud when they finish a project.  We display everyone’s work and  they support each other. It’s a beautiful thing.  I always tell Chuck how much I learn from them!   I feel so good and filled up with their happy!!!!

I asked her what Debbie Doodles Tips she had for those of us thinking about starting up or getting back to an artistic /creative pursuit. 

Debbie Doodles Tips

1. Find a dedicated space for your work, even if it is tiny. Start small to figure out what will work. That way you can walk away when you are done or need a break.  When you have that area you can sit right down and get back to it when you are inspired!
2. Get help if you need it. In-person might be hard these days, but online is amazing!! You can find classes or instructions for anything! 
3. Just do it! All you adults! Forget everything you think you know and just do it!

What creative pursuits fill you up with happy?  Leave me a comment, I would love to know your thoughts about that and Debbie Doodles Tips.