Showy Jacob's Ladder by local artist Debbie Bankert has been chosen for a new Corcoran Gallery of Art Juried Exhibition showcasing work from artists in the Corcoran College of Art program. Only 27 of the 100 artists were chosen to exhibit their work in the show that continues until January 6th. Debbie, who has a degree in Art from West Virginia University and a certificate in Botanical Art & Illustration from the Corcoran College of Art, lives in Orlean with her husband Tom, their Vizsla puppy, Moses, and a "dominant" cat named Manny. She paints from a studio overlooking a grand panorama of the Blue Ridge that she describes as "…a most inspiring place." After leaving a career in real estate, she returned to the art field and, in recent years, has actively pursued a professional art career. She works in watercolor, graphite, colored pencil, oil and egg tempura as she creates works that convey her deepest beliefs. "I strive to share color and line that are both rhythmic and gentle to the eye," she explained. "God has breathed life into our surroundings and my purpose is to emulate a small window of that beauty." She has exhibited throughout the DC metropolitan area in juried competitions, and her works have been displayed at the US Botanic Gardens, the USDA National Library and at the 2006 "Botanical Treasures of Lewis and Clark" Corcoran show. In the spring of 2008, Debbie plans to travel to the ProAves Reserves in Columbia, South America to study and paint rare and endangered plants. "I plan to focus primarily on bromeliad and orchids," she said. Limited edition Giclee reproductions, prints and note cards are available for Christmas presents by contacting Debbie at: DebbieBankert@aol.com.