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 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 ARC Studios in Vancouver in with her daughter. 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 September 2011)

Artist Resume

GROUP EXHIBITS AND SOLO EVENTS

2012 Bean Town - ‘Emerging and Pure Abstraction Works’ Solo Show, Dunbar Street, Vancouver

2012 Cafe Deux Soleil - ‘Emerging and Pure Abstraction Works’ Solo Show, East Vancouver, BC

2012 The Perch - Restaurant and Bar ‘Small and Large Abstract Paintings’ Solo Show, East Vancouver, BC

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

2011 - 2012 Public Lounge, A Group Show curated by Carmen Larsen, Vancouver BC

2011 Higher Ground Coffee House, A Selection of Works, Vancouver, BC.

2011 Group Show, Gregor Robertson Team Vision Artist Rally. Canvas Lounge, 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, “Uncommon Thread”, at the ARC Studios, Vancouver, BC

2011 Open Studio, with Lisa Penz and Artists in Our Midst, Vancouver, BC

2011 Solo Exhibit, Volution Salon, Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC

2011 Art on Display, " Star Crossed Lovers" at Margarita by Design, Kerrisdale, Vancouver, BC

2011 Art on Display, "Earth & Sky 2011" at Lucz Boutique, West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC

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

2010 Group Show, The Old Foundry Building,http://www.eastsideculturecrawl.com/ of Vancouver, BC

2010 Art on Display, " Star Crossed Lovers" at Infinity Salon, False Creek, Vancouver, BC

2010 Group Exhibit, Emerging works - Castle Antiques and Estate Dealers of Kerrisdale, Vancouver, BC

2009 Solo Exhibit, Emerging works and other new pieces, Java Station, Santa Barbara, CA
2009 Open Studio, a collection of works from the last five years, Santa Barbara, CA

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

2009 Nature and Abstraction, Deb Chaney & Steve Richardson, Santa Barbara, CA

2009 Solo Exhibit, Select Pieces, Java Station Café, Patchwork Paper, Santa Barbara, CA

2009 SWITCH Boutique Beverly Hills Solo Exhibit, select pieces Raw Expression

2008 Group Show, Drawn Out, VIVA Design Studio and Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA

2008 Solo Exhibit, Carina Cellars, Trees & Abstraction, Los Olivos, CA

2007 Solo Exhibit; Raw Expression, Sojourner Cafe, Santa Barbara, CA
2007 Group Exhibit, Art in Public Places with the Malibu Artist Association, Malibu, CA.

2006 Group Exhibit, Emerging, Fresca Café, Santa Barbara, CA

2006 Exhibitor; Santa Barbara Weekly Arts and Crafts Show
2004 Solo show Mini Hearts, Coffee Attic, Redondo Beach, CA

2003 Solo Exhibit; Hearts Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, Redondo Beach, CA
2003 Exhibitor; Leche League International Conference, Costa Mesa, CA
2003 Solo Exhibition; The Coffee Attic, Redondo Beach, CA
2003 Exhibitor; Annual Ron Cawdry Springfest Carnival, Redondo Beach, CA
2003 Solo Exhibit; Java Man Café, Hermosa Beach, CA
2002 Exhibitor; Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair, Manhattan Beach, CA

2001 Vendor, Alive and Well Yoga and Boutique, Hermosa Beach, CA

2001 Vendor, Moore’s Lunada Bay Market, Palos Verdes, CA

2001 Vendor, Malaga Cove Ranch Market Palos Verdes Estates, CA

2001 Vendor, Manhattan Grocery, Manhattan Beach, CA

2001 Vendor, Boccato's Fine Groceries, Hermosa Beach, CA

2001 Vendor, Smokey Hollow Wine and Cheese Shop, Hermosa Beach, CA

SELECT COLLECTORS

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
Associate Member, The International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA).

Member, Collage Artists of America

Member, International Society of Acrylic Painters

IN THE MEDIA

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

AWARDS & DONATIONS

2011 Prince of Wales High School Fundraiser. “Little Gem” 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

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

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.

INSTRUCTIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

2012 Art Competition Judge for OPUS Outdoor Painting Challenge

2012 North Shore Artist Guild, weekend workshop

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

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 Introduction to Abstract Painting in Acrylics and Mixed Media, 2 -4 day intensive workshops, July, August, September, October and November in Vancouver, BC

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

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 Woman's 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