Running From Stillness
A poignant exploration of fear, resilience, and the fleeting empowerment found in small rituals.
This painting captures the tension between inner turmoil and the fleeting power of escape, symbolized by a pair of vibrant Nike shoes.
Running From Stillness depicts a young woman curled up in a chair, her body tense and her gaze anxiously cast over her shoulder as if watching for something unseen. Her bright Nike high-tops stand out vividly against the moody background, a quiet symbol of hope and strength amidst fear.
Inspired by the story of a young woman who described her demons as constant companions, this piece reflects the inner turmoil that often overshadows even the most beautiful landscapes. Her Nike shoes, a personal talisman, offered her fleeting moments of empowerment—small rituals that helped her feel as though she could outrun her struggles, if only for a moment.
This painting invites viewers to consider the small but powerful objects or habits in their own lives that provide resilience and a sense of freedom when facing challenges.
Oil and mixed media on canvas
40″ x 24″
The Full Story Doesn’t Exist: Structural Omission in Contemporary Realism
Deborah Scott’s paintings begin with real conversations—personal narratives offered in moments of trust. But the works resist the illusion of full understanding. Rather than completing the story, each piece reveals its limits: what can be seen, and what cannot.
Rendered with classical precision and intentionally interrupted, these images reflect Scott’s framework of Structural Omission—a practice that refuses closure and challenges the viewer’s desire for resolution. The absences aren’t decorative; they’re structural. What’s missing was never meant to be filled in.
In an era of instant answers and polished certainty, Scott’s realism holds space for complexity, fracture, and the unknown.