About
DEBORAH JENCSIK would describe her life as one that has been divinely compelled. She spent many years nurturing her love for art, but always believed her life paints a much bigger picture. “Whatever your hands choose to do, do it with all your might” best defines every area of opportunity she’s chosen to embrace. Whether it be toward family, artistic endeavors, ministry and community service, to teaching and inspiring others, all are approached with the utmost sense of calling and priority over balance. She credits her faith in God for actively guiding her steps; strengthening and shaping character; equipping her even today for that which is yet to come. Her best works are a fusion of many chapters of a well-lived life, that when combined, create something greater than the sum of its parts.
Debbie always believed she was an artist at a very early age. Her aunt was an oil painter and her parents modeled lives of grace, dedication, skill, and a hard work ethic. She received a fine arts degree and studied under notable teachers and mentors. She currently lives, works, and serves in a New Jersey beach community and it was at the Jersey Shore area that she connected with several art guilds and arts organizations beginning in 1997. Her initial interest was in portraiture and representational painting. Many of her early works are in private collections. Simultaneously, she had a focused commitment to conduct workshops in art for children and that developed into a small business, Primary Colors Art Studio. She also taught painting in senior centers, homeschool organizations, and nursing facilities.
In 2006, Debbie and her husband were instrumental in planting a church in their community where they served for thirteen years at Jersey Shore Calvary Chapel. www.jscalvary.com This historic gem, a circa 1800’s building, would soon become a gallery space for many of her paintings, where they still exist today. She has often reflected on this as an unimagined “crowning achievement.”
In 2007, greatly influenced by the artwork of children, Debbie created and copyrighted “True Colors,” a simple yet sophisticated collection of small torn paper collages and she is currently adding to that collection.
In 2008, after studying acting in NYC with Flo Salant Greenberg, she was inspired to take greater risks with her work resulting in an emerging style of highly textured expressive abstractions described in this statement—
“The creative and developmental process of my work is often challenging and invariably unpredictable. An aesthetic harvest of discernible images are wielded with a single palette knife while fearlessly taking risks with composition and color. A lavish amount of heavy pigments, muted dialogue, hours of relentless application of paint and deliberation are what determines the direction and ultimate complexion of each piece. The entire process is like diving into an infinite treasure trove of revelatory riches. That which surfaces is a refreshing sense of wonderment and playful delight.”
Debbie’s multidisciplinary journey has rewarded her with unforgettable opportunities, from juried group and solo exhibitions, gallery shows, and a twenty plus year span of serving Congressman Christopher Smith’s district as one of three jurors for the prestigious Annual Congressional Art Competition for High School students.
In 2011, Brian Fox Krawczyk, creative visionary and founder of Genealogy Beauty, LLC commissioned her as the first artist to interpret his holiday vision, “Holidacious Happenings,” one of four beauty collections to be launched in Genealogy’s Woman of the Year 2012 campaign resulting in the completion of the piece “Celestial Celebration.” Aea Marc, Vice President of Product Development at Genealogy LLC writes, "The emotion she brings to her work makes Deborah the perfect artist to envision Genealogy's Year of the Woman 2012."
In 2013, Debbie was invited to participate in an important exhibition in Newtown, CT, in the wake of an unspeakable tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It was an initiative called “Healing Newtown Through the Arts.” A variety of artists and musicians from across the country participated and government dignitaries were among the guests. Her painting “Elephant Dreams” remains on public display in a show of love and support for the community.
In 2019, East Gate Calvary Fellowship was established, where her husband is currently the pastor. www.eastgatecalcary.com The church communities have been fertile ground, and as a pastor’s wife, has provided ways to serve others, teach women and children, coordinate and speak at events, and expand interests in writing bible studies as well as scripture-based journals. Debbie maintains a love for learning and continued growth. She believes that art, just like faith, not only transcends time, but grows bolder and gets better with age.
2019- current East Gate Calvary Fellowship
2006-2018 Jersey Shore Calvary Chapel
Solo Art Exhibitions
2013 The Oyster Point Hotel, Red Bank, NJ - "Love Songs"
2013 Gallery 135, Red Bank, NJ - "True Colors”- Debbie Jencsik Paintings
2012 M. Christina Geis Gallery, Georgian Court University, Lakewood, NJ
2012 Idiosyncrazies Gallery, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
2012 The Oyster Point Hotel, Red Bank, NJ - “All Things New”
2011 Ocean County Artists Guild, Island Heights, NJ - “Revels: Expressions in Truth”
2008 Point Pleasant Library, Point Pleasant, NJ – “True Colors”
2001 Ralyn Art Center Gallery, Lakewood, NJ
2001 Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Brick, NJ -Debbie Jencsik: Paintings and Student Art
Selected Group Shows
2013 Gallery 135, Red Bank, NJ - "Fifty Shades of Tea"
2013 Connecticut State Capitol Building, Hartford, CT
2013 Healing Newtown Arts Space, Newtown, CT - "Healing Newtown Through the Arts"
2012 Gallery 135, Red Bank, NJ – Red Bank Art Walk Invitational
2012 Gallery 135, Red Bank, NJ - “Stations of the Cross” Exhibition
2012 Idiosyncrazies Gallery - Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
2012 Guild of Creative Art, Shrewsbury, NJ - Exhibiting Member’s Show
2012 PCPC Arts Festival, Dallas, TX - “The Passion and the Promise”
2011 Gallery 135, Red Bank, NJ- “Taste and See”
2011 ArtReach Gallery - Dallas, TX
2011 PCPC Arts Festival, Dallas, TX - “Parables, Surprised by Truth”
2010 Gallery 135, Red Bank, NJ - “Wind, Water, Oil, Fire”
2010 Guild of Creative Art, Shrewsbury, NJ - Exhibiting Members Show
2010 White Stone Gallery, Philadelphia, PA -“Fine Art and Faith” Exhibition
2010 Guild of Creative Art, Shrewsbury, NJ - “Edgy to Avante Garde”
2009 Guild of Creative Art, Shrewsbury, NJ - Exhibiting Members Show
2009 Gallery 135, Red Bank, NJ - “Word”
2009 White Stone Gallery, Philadelphia, PA – Juried Exhibition
2002 Ocean County Artists Guild Juried State Exhibition, Toms River, NJ
2001 Ocean County Artists Guild, Toms River, NJ
2000 Ralyn Art Center, Lakewood, NJ
1999 Ocean Medical Center, Brick, NJ
1999 Laurelton Art Society, Brick, NJ
1999 American Artists Professional League, Ocean County College, Tom River, NJ
1999 American Artists Professional League, Center for the Arts, Millville, NJ
1999 American Artists Professional League, Ocean City Arts Center, Ocean City, NJ