Originally born in Virginia, Debra Bonner DeMars considers Florida home.   She began painting at an early age.  Her beloved horses became her first subjects that later grew into art lessons.  Lanier Densmore, a local artist in Orange Park, became her mentor and subsequently hired Debra at age thirteen, as his apprentice.  She studied with Lanier and worked for him throughout high school and then attended Florida Junior College where she received an Associate of Arts Degree.  She exhibited in numerous juried art shows throughout the years including the 1980 Clay Festival where she won "Best in Show,  First Place in Painting, the "Purchase Award" and Second Place in "Graphics and Design". 

Debra continued her Fine Art studies in Painting and Printmaking at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. After college, Debra was selected from a number of artists around the country as the Artist-in-Residence for the Clay County School System and also worked four years in public relations and career counseling for Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in the Duval County Public School System.  She is President of her own  design and event company, Perception 22, and also moved into the real estate business where she has excelled for the past 15 years.

Debra and her husband, Chip DeMars, share their time at their horse ranch in Hastings and their home in Neptune Beach, Florida.  After a several-year hiatus from painting, Debra has just recently returned to her canvases and has re-emerged onto the painting scene while maintaining her established career as a mortgage loan consultant.  Her marketing company is enjoying a resurgence as well and she is passionate about assisting her clients with their creative needs.  She has worked as a commissioned portrait artist throughout her art career and loves people.  "Life really does go full circle" Debra says.  "Since my hiatus, my creative juices have been flowing and my new focus is on several commissioned portraits currently in my studio.  Perception 22, my creative services company since 1990, has grown and we are excited to assist our clients with a range of projects from event planning to printed collateral.  I am also currently finishing a series of canvases of my own eight horses.   I love animals and hope to get some animal portraits added to my portfolio as well.  I'm doing what I love and it feels great to be back."