Deborah Holt: Artist/Author
Deborah was born on August 22, 1958, the Feast of “the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, as the second oldest of eight children of Judy and Carl Tomasetti.
When Deb was seven years old, she suffered third degree burns on her right arm and right hip that led to a 9-month stay in the hospital. She had to have skin grafts on her hip, daily shots to fight infection, daily bouts of “the tub where the dead skin is peeled off,” and daily physical therapy to learn to walk again and regain the use of her right arm. As part of her physical therapy, she began to draw.
While in the hospital, Deb remembers the almost daily visits from her little Italian grandmother, Angelina. The burns not only left her scarred physically, but also psychologically and emotionally. She felt very ugly, but during our visits, grandma Angelina would always tell her that “it doesn’t matter what’s on the outside, but what’s on the inside that counts.” She never forgot her words. Grandma Angelina helped her to heal, too. Deb believes she planted seeds of faith and hope in her.
Not long after she was out of the hospital, her beloved grandmother Angelina passed away. Deb was devastated. With the combined trauma of the burns and losing her grandmother, she withdrew from the world, and stopped talking. Her family was worried. Drawing became even more important to her—the only way she knew how to express herself at the time. Eventually, it also led Deb out of her silence. It was her relief. Drawing became her joy, the love of her life, and a path to healing.
After high school, Deb went to the University of Minnesota, Morris and graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree: a major in Studio Art and a minor in Art History. She was now a professional artist! In 1980, she married Pete Holt, who also graduated from the U of M, Morris. The years seem to have flown by and now they have three grown children: Laura, Charlie, and Katie, and grandchildren.
In October, of 1996, Deb was at a point of personal crisis when her mother was gravely ill. She spent hours in contemplation and reflection. Drawing again became the vehicle and path of healing for her. The spiritual drawings (which began January, 1997) in the book, “The Seven Sacraments and Life in the Trinity—A Love Story Between God and His People,” came as a response to this intense period of deep, inner soul-searching, dreams, and much prayer. Deb embarked on a journey of faith. The seed of faith that grandmother Angelina had planted years ago, Our Lord and His mother Mary now sprouted. She began drawing, not for herself, but for the love of God.
She has realized how much love the Father has for her personally and for each one of us; so much that He sent His Son Jesus to suffer and die for us. The Trinity and Sacraments are alive in our beings! Jesus is truly healing her. He fills her heart with so much Love it feels as if it could burst! Deb feels as though she is His little child. Each one of us is His little child!
Deb believes God gave her a very special, beautiful gift and she is most grateful. She wants to do something beautiful for God now. She wants to be open to the Holy Spirit working in her life, and is trying to answer the call the Lord has put before her. These pictures were and continue to be Deb’s “fiat.”
In addition to the drawings in the Sacrament book and pictures of the Holy Trinity, Deb has completed other pictures entitled “The Crucifixion” and “The Sword of Truth.” She is currently working on a picture called “Mary, Land of Our Birth, Mother of All the Living.”
For more artwork details, go to the gallery.
To purchase the book or other art prints, go to our online order form.