Artist Statement

My creative process involves listening to the piece in progress and allowing it to guide me to its next step. Sometimes I am adding layer upon layer and removing parts of each layer. I have no exact plan as to what the finished piece will become. I let each layer guide me and trust the finished image will emerge. I paint with large sky flow brushes, palette knives, sea sponges, sturdy workshop rags, and even my fingers and sleeves.  In mid process I have often thought I would eat the paint if that was what the painting required. The process of creating paintings challenges, invigorates and inspires me. Often what motivates me to jump out of bed in the morning is a thought as to I what next layer I need to add – or take away - on a piece I am currently working on. I practice daily, relish the process, and am grateful to live and work in my passion.

Artist Bio

Collectors began to take notice of Deb’s work when she began to exhibit weekly at the Santa Barbara, CA Art Walk in 2007  and as well the unveiling of her first large body of work entitled ‘Raw Expression’ exhibited at Sojourner Cafe in Santa Barbara and then later at SWITCH Boutique in Beverly Hills. This body of work earned her elected member status of the Society of Canadian Artist.

In 2009, she moved back to her hometown of Vancouver, BC and was commissioned by RainMaker Films, Inc. to provide an abstract painting for one of their films. She also participated in Canada’s largest open studio event; The East End Culture Crawl and has done so each year since.

Deb is also a published writer. She is the author of the box card set The 68 Secrets of an Illuminated Artist: How to Stay in your Creative Flow, Despite Any Obstacle, The Little Inspiration Book, Ideas to Empower Women [2000. Trafford Publishing.] and a contributing author to Sand in my Bra, Funny Women Write From the Road [2002. Traveler’s Tales Publishing].

Deb Chaney currently lives and works at the Live/ Work ARC Studios in Vancouver, BC. As well as maintaining her own studio practice, she is a workshop facilitator and  the founder of Illuminate the Artist Within(TM), a company whose mission is to playfully and compassionately illuminate the artist within each and everyone of us.  Illuminate the Artist Within(TM) offers workshops, retreats, and a line of products designed to support creativity.

(updated July 2012)

Artist Resume

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITS AND SOLO EVENTS

2013 “Where Spirituality meets Physicality” Juried Group Show, Britannia Library Gallery, Vancouver

2012 Juried Group Show, Society of Canadian Artist Members Exhibit, Halifax, NS

2012 "3, 2, 1... Art Party" Juried Group Show, Seymour Gallery, North Vancouver, BC

2012 Greener Pastures, online exhibit, Society of Layerists in Mixed Media

2012 Artists in Our Midsts Roundhouse Show and Open Studio at Laura Jewitt’s Jewerly, Vancouver, BC

2012 Havana Gallery, ‘Pure Abstraction’ Solo Show, Vancouver, BC

2011 East End Culture Crawl Open Studio at The ARC, Vancouver, BC

2011 Group Show with the SLMM “Overtures” Portland Oregon, USA

2011 Group Show, The Roundhouse Exhibit with Artists in Our Midst, Yaletown, Vancouver, BC

2011 Group Show, The Beaumont Studios “Little Gems” with Rojia Dadashzadeh, Vancouver, BC

2010 Group Show, The Society  of Canadian Artist presents "Little Gems" Galerie Ouest Toronto, ON

2009 Solo Exhibit, Patchwork Paper,Via Roma Boutique, Los Angeles, CA

2007 Solo Exhibit; Raw Expression, Sojourner Cafe, Santa Barbara, CA

2006 Exhibitor; Santa Barbara Weekly Arts and Crafts Show

2002 Exhibitor; Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair, Manhattan Beach, CA

SELECT COLLECTORS

Ms. Jolina Fizdale, Newbury Park, CA USA

Ms. Bolette Bossen, Boston, MA, USA

Ms. Elizabeth Giele, Santa Barbara, CA

April Cooper, Santa Barbara, Ca USA

L. Noel, Santa Barbara, CA USA

Mrs. Becky Marshall, Santa Barbara, CA USA

Keri and Zach Estrin, Manhattan Beach, CA USA

Steve Murillo, First Manhattan Mortgage, Manhattan Beach, CA USA

Tai Kerbs, Santa Barbara, CA USA

Lyza Fontana, Santa Barbara, CA USA

Elizabeth Giele, Santa Barbara, CA USA

Misty and Chris Hogan, Palm Desert, CA USA

Barb and Jeff Blackstone, Redondo Beach, CA USA

Rosie and Ruhi Logan, Redondo Beach, CA, USA USA

Dana and Jeff Miller,  Hong Kong,  Hong Kong

Mrs. Katrina Mitchell – Stewart, Richmond, BC, Canada

Dr. Heidi Kussman, ND Toronto, ONT, Canada

Dr. Robert and Margaret Bear, Vancouver, BC Canada

Ms. Ana Victorson, Summerland, CA USA

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Elected Member, Society of Canadian Artists (SCA) 2007-current

Elected Member, Artist in Our Midsts, 2010-2012
Associate Member, SLMM - The Society of Layerists in Multi-Media

IN THE MEDIA

2012 Cafe Mouse - Blog Write Up (http://cafe.mouse.co.il/post/2511497/)

2012 TELUS TV Interview with Mia Japal

2011 NOVUS Community TV Interview (http://youtu.be/dRMKqci80Vc)

2011 CBC Radio one Interview with Chad Pawson aired on CBC Early Edition Monday Nov 28. ( archive link upcoming)

2011 Hans Ongansoy, Little Gems Exhibit, The Province, Great Things to Do on the Weekend. LittleGemsProvApr2011.pdf.

2011 Georgia Strait interview about The Beaumont Studios Little Gems Show of Rojia Dadashzadeh with mention of Deb Chaney. Link

2011 “It takes a Village” Interview with Kara Ko 102.7 Co-op Radio. Listen on Youtube: Part1, Part2 & Part3.

2011 Blog write up about Concept to Completion March workshop by Lisa Penz. Link.

2011 Featured Artist of the Month Artist in Our Midst.

2011 Blog write up about January 2011 Goal Setting Workshop by Audrey Marshall.

2010 Featured Artist & Interview at The Muse is In by Jill Badonsky, M. Ed.

2009 The Santa Barbara Art Blog Re: Deb Chaney’s Open Studio Event

2009 Interview with Kim McCool on Blog Radio

2008 “Author uses life experience to write book” Interview by Whitney Youngs, Beach Reporter, Hermosa Beach, CA, USA

SPEAKING ENGAGMENTS

2013 Britannia Library Gallery, Artist talk on Where does Spirituality meet Physicality?

2012 Vancouver Public Library downtown, What stops artists from succeeding and 10 things they can do to overcome these blocks.

2010-2013 OPUS Framing and Art Supplies, demonstrations and talks about products and process in acrylics and mixed media.

AWARDS & DONATIONS

2013 ‘A Night of Miracles’ – a BC Children’s Hospital Foundation Vancouver, BC. “Guide me Through the Starry Night” 40 x 60” original abstract painting. Vancouver, BC.
2012 United Way campaign at Metro Vancouver - art and workshop donation. Vancouver, BC

2011 Prince of Wales High School Fundraiser. “Little Gems” donation. Vancouver, BC

2011 It’s About A Boy Fundraiser, “Yoga Soup - mini” donation, Vancouver, BC

2011 Brock House Society Annual Auction and Fundraiser, “Let’s Play 30 x 40” donation, Vancouver

2011 Scotiabank Vancouver Auction for BC Children’s Hospital, “Red Sea 12 x 12” Vancouver, BC

1991 Duke of Edinburgh Award, Gold, Silver and Bronze. Awarded by HRH Prince Edward, Victoria, BC.

1986 Sophie Clapham Memorial Award in Recognition of Excellence in Fine Arts

INSTRUCTIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

2013 Trafalgar Elementary School, 5 week progressive weekly hour long art class, taught to grade 4 class.

2013 Richmond Artist Guild - Evening talk and live demonstration on current abstract mixed media landscape philosophy, inspiration and techniques. DVD recording was made.

2012 Family Services of Greater Vancouver - Using Painting in a Therapeutic Practice

2012 Art Competition Judge for OPUS Outdoor Painting Challenge

2012 North Shore Artist Guild, weekend workshop - Creating Encaustic Effects with Acrylics

2012 Creating a Body of Work - 6 week workshop.

2012 Brock House Community Seniors Center, 9 week workshop ‘How to create encaustic effects with acrylics.’

2011 Northstar Montessori School, North Vancouver, Intro to abstract painting in acrylics for children

2011 Glazing and Colour Mixing Demonstration, Thursday Night Painting Party - at Beaumont Studios, Vancouver, BC

2010- 2011 Experimental and Energizing Abstract Painting, 9 wk class, Brock House Society, Vancouver, BC

2011 Concept to Completion: Advanced Abstract Painting on Panel, Vancouver, BC

2010 - Current Introduction to Abstract Painting in Acrylics, Advanced with Mediums & Collage Creations

2010 Acrylics Demonstration, OPUS Framing and Art Supplies, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC

2009-2010 Private Mentorship Classes in studio Classes, Santa Barbara, CA & Vancouver, BC

2008-2009 Living your Creative Dream with The 9 Modern Day Muses and a Bodyguard, Santa Barbara, CA

EDUCATION

2009 Art Plane Workshop, Nicholas Wilton and Jenny Opentheimer, Esalen, CA

2008 Sabrina Ward Harrison, Spilling. Carol Parks Studio, Los Angeles, CA

2007 Lana Grow, Aquamedia & Collage: Experimental and Energizing, Pns Art School, WI.

2007 Nancy Reyner, Encaustics Effects with Acrylic. Santa Barbara, CA

2007 Independent Study, Kanuga Water Color Retreat, Asheville, N. Carolina

2007 Ann Baldwin, Painting and Collage, Santa Barbara, CA

2006 Bob Burridge, Basics in Abstract Acrylic Painting, Burbank, CA

2002-2006 Adolfo Girala; Personal Instruction in Mixed Media and Acrylics
2005 Rick Stitch; Abstract Painting, Santa Barbara City College Adult Ed
2005 Karen Browdy; Collage and Mixed Media, Santa Barbara City College Adult Ed

2002 Introduction to Watercolors, El Camino College Community Education
1998 Ron Mulvey; Beginning Acrylic Painting, Nelson, BC, Canada.

2000 B.Sc. Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, BC.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

2012 Yoga Alliance Certified, Yoga Teacher Training, 200 hr, Rizze Yoga Vancouver

2010 Landmark Forum, Vancouver, BC

2008 Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching Program, Dr. R. Maurer and Jill Badonsky, San Diego, CA

2007 Muse Fascilitator Training, Jill Badonsky, San Francisco, CA

2007  Life Mastery, Anthony Robbins, Namale, Fiji

2006 Date with Destiny, Anthony Robbins, Palm Springs, CA

2005 Wizard Training, T.Harv Ecker Peak Potentials Training, Canmore, AB

2004 Unleash the Power WIthin, Anthony Robbins, San Francisco , CA

2002 Healing with Whole Foods, Paul Pitchford, Heartwood Institute, CA

2000 Warrior Training, T.Harv Ecker Peak Potentials Training, Squamish, BC

1999 Pursuit of Excellence, Context Associated, Vancouver, BC

1998 International Academy of Vibrational Medicine, Level 1, Nanaimo, BC

Publications

Deb Chaney is a contributing author, Sand in My Bra – Funny Women Write From the Road published 2001

Including stories by Anne Lamott, Ellen Degeneres, Sarah Vowell, Margo Kaufman, Sandra Tsing Loh, Adair Lara, and many more...

"Bursting with exuberant candor and crackling humor, Sand in My Bra is sure to leave readers feeling that to not have an adventure to remember is a great loss indeed....will definitely light a fire under the behinds of, as the dedication states, 'all the women who sit at home or behind their desks bitching that they never get to go anywhere.'"

—Publishers Weekly

"The Little Inspiration Book is filled with practical and doable suggestions to help women make the most of each moment and each day."     

- Kristine Carlson, author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Women (Andrews McMeel Pub, 2002)

"The Little Inspiration Book is a treasure. No matter who you are or where you are, there is something in here that will help you remember who you are - right now!"

-Dr. Christianne Northrup, M.D. Author of Women's Bodies Women's Wisdom (Bantam, 1998)

"A sweet book full of ideas and resources for living a more fulfilling life."

1. -Jack Canfield, Co-author, Chicken Soup for the Soul (Health Communications, Inc.)
   

Deb Chaney is a featured artist in:

Artists of British Columbia, Volume 3 Editor is Leighdon Studio Gallery/ Jane Richardson. ISBN 978-0-9783296-8-6. Soft cover. 112 pages, 9” x 9”. Published January 1, 2012. $19.95