Deb Thornton is a Minnesota artist. She has always loved art, painting in oils in high school and minored in art in college. She went on to law school and became a  corporate attorney. With an early retirement came the gift of time, and a rediscovery of her passion for painting. 

She has focused on abstract and semi-realism, drawn to the spontaneity and freedom it allows. Creating interesting shapes and contrasting values, she tries not to think too hard while she paints, preferring to let the painting evolve. The goal is to let what she has learned about the elements and principles of design, subconsciously guide the process. She especially loves to paint with acrylics and texture mediums.

She has taken many classes and workshops from some outstanding local and national artists. Membership in the NorthStar Watermedia Society, NEMAA, Minnesota Watercolor, White Bear Center for the Arts and painting groups have helped her develop technical and creative skills as a painter.

Her work has been shown in a number of exhibitions, including Northern Lights, Minnesota State Fair, NorthStar Watermedia, and Minnesota Watercolor. Her paintings are available at Studio 321, Northrup King Building in Minneapolis.