Art biz buddy

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For the last three months I’ve been participating in an online blog class called Promote your Art, facilitated by Alyson Stanfield. The course was and excellent introduction to many ways and aspects artist can ‘make it happen’ for themselves out there in the world – whether in person or online. I also had a chance to virtually network with artists from all over the US and Canada. The biggest concept I got from this class was how everyone you know can be an ally to your success. That it’s imperative artist support each other. Nine times out of ten, we learned it’s who you know that gets you into that gallery, that show, or whatever you have your sights on.

[Talking about networking from this Promote your Art class, I’ll be in Scottsdale, Arizona next week to check out the art scene and also meet a fellow online class mate; John Michael Kearny! Looking forward to giving you the scoop on the contemporary abstract art in Scottsdale.]

To keep the momentum going after the 'Promote Your Art Class' I serindipisly hooked up a fellow artist whom I recently met via toastmasters and started meeting weekly to work together and support each other from an art business standpoint. We connectd immediatley at toastmasters because Kelly talked about how she'd recently attended the internationally acclaimed Sculptural Object and Functional Art Expo where she went to do some research on galleries who would be a good fit for her fine art jewelry and precious sculpture. I was intrigued and spoke to her after the meeting. The rest is history, we’ve been meeting weekly ever since.

A little bit about Kelly Johnson …After her leaving a technical job in 2006 which included engineering applications and manufacturing with precious metals used in the electronics industry, Kelly chose to apply her passion for metal and fire as a full time professional artist. (Photos of Kelly and her work). Painting in metal with fire is an exciting process, full of a directed kind of chaos with the beauty and science of the materials revealed, and reborn into personal adornment and object. Some of her material is derived from reclaimed unwanted mainstream jewelry and electronics waste, reducing the impact on the planet.


Kelly and I meet every week and discuss our art business and making art, support each other, and work on various aspects of our art businesses. .The last three weeks I’ve been working on a marketing plan and Kelly has been fine tuning a business plan she initially wrote working with women’s economic ventures. This week Kelly was doing a mail out to collectors, contacts and prospective future collectors with beautiful cards she recently had printed with her work on the front.

I can tell you that the benefits are unlimited in teaming up with someone that is in a similar place and supporting each other. Thank you to Kelly for being my art biz buddy.






What support do you have in place for your art and the business of your art? Do you know of any programs or people that help artists? Please do share in the comments section.

2 Opportunities for Artists

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The Coffee Cat is looking for a new artist to hang their work on their walls at their Santa Barbara location at 1201 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA on the corner of Anapamu. Rumor has it the last artist who showed their sold a few pieces, Congrats! Their number is (805) 962-7164.

The multifaith action society, whose mission is to promote intereiligious understanding and cooperation, is now accepting applications (art pieces) for their 2009 "Sacred Joy" themed annual callendar.

15 minutes of play a day!

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I'm in a bit of a lull with my paintings. Ok, not just a bit, a total fricken, need a break, had-enough-for-now type of lull. My whole being is craving a break. I feel tired when I enter the studio....

We've all been through it. It's normal to have breaks in our creativity.

I think the biggest fear that comes up when I acknowledge and embrace the lull is: can I go back and paint at the level I was at when I stopped? Will I be able to do it again?

Welcome to the uncertainty of being an artist. There is no answer to this, only to go forth and stay committed to the path.

At the beginning of the long weekend, still not accepting the fact that I needed to take a break and I went back to the studio thinking I could force myself into some painting...I did a short meditation and asked this new series of work what it needed. I was still pushing.

The work told me loud and clear; "Give us space, trust the process, have some patience, we're coming in our own time, you have all the time you need to bring us to completion - we'll get there in our own good time!" Yes, this message appeared in large cursive writing in my studio journal, loud and clear.

Closing up my studio, I decided I would read a new book in the area of creativity. I packed up my daughter, the stroller, beach towel, chairs, buckets, snacks, water, and sunscreen off to the beach . Yes, this is the delights of living in Southern California in November - you can go to the beach!

Fifteen minutes of play a day, this is the gift I received from the first chapter of Creating a Life Worth Living - a practical course in career design for artists by Carol Lloyd. Carol asks the reader to commit to a ritual at the same time each day – to do something playful every day. By play she means something that there is no product or goal associated with. Something that is pretty much mindless, that you could do just as easily ten years from now. Something FUN!

Some examples of 15 minute play dates with your inner artist child could be banging on bongo drums, doodling in a journal, dancing, sitting on your rooftop watching the sun rise, drawing mandalas, walking a labyrinth, singing improvisational melodies (remember like when you were a kid?) meditation, walking, journal writing, yoga, and gardening.

Why play? Why take the time to be non-productive, have fun? First off, Carol says first that committing to a small ritual like this every morning teaches us to be commitment to our creativity. The empty space created by ‘being’ in the moment opens up our minds to new ideas, inspiration. It’s this act of committing a seemingly mindless action that creates empty space for our imagination to blossom and grow. By doing it daily, It also provides us with structure and self –discipline which will strengthen our imagination by instituting emptiness into each day.

I think David Lloyd puts it best in his interview in the first chapter of Creating a Life Worth Living when he says:
“Adults have a hard time making art, and kids don’t. You give a kid a bunch of coloring books, construction paper, and all crap kids love to screw around with, and they just start making things. Adults go in their studio and they have all this horseshit in their heads about what it’s like to be an artist, whether artists have a big skylight and a fancy studio or whether they live in a little crummy place: whether it’s okay t to have a cappuccino in the middle of the day or they should be smoking a cigarettes and drinking beer; whether they should have a show or shouldn’t have a show…it just pile on so thick it’s no wonder so many people get stuck.”

Why not give it a try? Lately I'm so cranky from producing, producing, and more producing (writing a marketing plan, worrying about what the heck I'm gonna blog about next week, re-writing my artist statement, updating my website, organizing a workshop for another artist... ) why not remember what it's like to create without expectations? Do something just for the fun of it?

I’ll keep you posted…

I would Love to hear about what you do to play - how about those Kaizen Muse Coaches - what are you recommending to burned out artists such as myself?

The “comment lines" are always open ! Can’t wait to hear how YOU play.

You do play, don't you? :-)

New Work - Pure Abstraction

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Untitled
Pure Abstration Series

© Deb Chaney 2007
Mixed Media, Acrylics on Canvas
16” x 16” ready to hang with 1” painted edges

Feng Shui Recommendation: Knowledge & Self Development. Place this piece in the left hand corner of your home/office or the room you are decorating to cultivate your knowledge and self development.

$380.00 USD MasterCard/Visa accepted
(805) 403-9870 deb@debcreative.com

Elected Member to the Society of Canadian Artists

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Last Friday I received a surprise phone called from Linda Hobly, SCA Vice President of Membership for the Society of Canadian Artists. She called to tell me I was accepted through the jury process as an elected member of the Society of Canadian Artsits - SCA. I am honored and was a bit shocked from the phone call. Thank you Linda for the call and also to the jurers for the helpful feedback as well as encouraging comments on my work.

To celebrate I subscribed myself to three magazines that were on my wish list; Art News, American Artist, and Modern Painters. I’d been meaning to get these subscriptions for a while and this moment seemed like an opportune time. Yay!

The Jury process consisted of submitting five images of my recent work for which I submitted 5 of my favorite pieces from my Raw Expression body of work from this year. I was also asked numerous questions in an application form. Between you and me, I spent 3-4 weeks pondering those questions and really giving them deep consideration. Here’s what they asked and what I said…

What is your vision concerning your work?

My personal vision is to playfully and compassionately illuminate the artist within myself and others. I live this myself by painting daily, practicing, exploring, and always learning. I see myself contributing to the world as an artist, with many bodies of work. As well, I see myself teaching others - not only in abstract mixed media painting techniques - but in the realm of creativity and its process in general. I see my work in galleries throughout the world, in collections throughout the world. I see myself involved and contributing in some way to a growing movement of people understanding the link of healing and creativity. Lastly, as part of my vision, I would like to inspire and mentor younger and beginning artists just as I am being mentored currently by several established artists.


How much of your work is produced independently or with guidance?

I produce all my work independently in my studio at home.

What have you done to develop or improve your work?

2007 Promote Your Art, online class with Alyson Stanfield, MA
2007 Lana Grow, Aquamedia & Collage: Experimental and Energizing, Peninsula 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 Mulvuy; Beginning Acrylic Painting, Nelson, BC, Canada.

What contributions have you made to the artistic community?

· 2008 – Currently, I am organizing a workshop for Lana Grow: Experimental and Energizing; mixed media and collage, 5 days, March 5-9,2008. To be held at the Goleta Valley Community Center.
· 2006-7 Class Facilitator of "Live your Creative Dream" using the 9 Modern Day Muses and a body guard by Jill Badonsky (similar to the Artists Way, but more fun)
· 2007 - Working as a Creativity Coach in training with the Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching Association.
· Organized the 2007 Nancy Reyner, Encaustics Effects with Acrylic workshop here in Santa Barbara.
· I write a regular - bi-weekly online column with a focus to share contemporary abstract painting techniques using collage, acrylics, and mixed media as well as explore and share my life as a working artist; studio habits, and creative inspiration.


What professional memberships and affiliations to you hold?

Member, Malibu Art Association
Associate Member, SLMM - The Society of Layerists in Multi-Media
Member, The International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA).
Member, Collage Artists of America
Member, International Society of Acrylic Painters

Major exhibitions, galleries, awards.

July – August 2007 Solo Exhibit; ‘Raw Expression’, Sojourner Cafe, Santa Barbara, CA
December 2005 – December 2006; Santa Barbara Weekly Arts and Crafts Show
September - October 2003 Solo Exhibit; ‘Hearts’ Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, Redondo Beach, CA
June 2003 Exhibitor; Leche League International Conference, Costa Mesa, CA
May - October 2003 Solo Exhibition; The Coffee Attic, Redondo Beach, CA
April 2003 Exhibitor; Annual Ron Cawdry Springfest Carnival, Redondo Beach, CA
February 2003 Solo Exhibit; Java Man Café, Hermosa Beach, CA
October 2002 Exhibitor; Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair, Manhattan Beach, CA
1986, Sophie Clapham Memorial Award in Recognition of Excellence in Fine Arts

Why do you want to become a member of the SCA?

To involve myself with the Canadian art scene and expose myself as Canadian artist. To contribute to art in Canada in terms of my physical art itself but also in the spirit of inspiration, creativity, and mixed media painting. I see myself teaching internationally and would love to give workshops to SCA members in my area of painting expertise. To promote, support and encourage other artists within the organization.

Other pertinent information about your artistic career?

Professional full time artist since 2002. Author of The Little Inspiration Book, Ideas to Empower Women (Trafford Publishing, June 2002) and a contributing author to Sand in My Bra & Other Misadventures (Traveler’s Tales, April 2003). Regular online writings about art, creativity and mixed media abstract techniques at.

Please present a short biography for SCA use.

Deb Chaney paints large multi layered mixed media abstract paintings on canvas and paper using brushes, palette knives, and rags. Her most recent body of work entitled Raw Expression, takes her work to a new level in expressing her deep passion for painting. Deb is currently exploring several bodies of work on both canvas and paper each with its own theme and inspiration. She intends to submit her work to galleries in 2008. Raised in Vancouver, BC she currently lives in Santa Barbara, CA with her husband and daughter. She has sold over 50 paintings in Canada and the U.S.

Josh Serafin - Expressionist Oil painter

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Last week I was walking through the local outdoor mall with my 4 year daughter. We were on our way to Claire’s to buy some princess accessories for her best friend’s birthday present. On the way to the boutique/kids jewelry store we walked by the weekly outdoor art show and some vivid art work caught my eye.

What I liked was the feeling of passion, and intense vivid colors that gave the art a uniqueness, in that most of the art walks around here are all about landscapes, and well, more landscapes. It was refreshing to see something with some pizzaz and attitude, even some abstraction!

I approached expressionist oil painter Josh Serafin and asked him if he would be wiling to answer some questions for the interview you can read below. What I admire about Josh is the way he acknowledged everyone that walked by his booth in a friendly but non-pushy way. Since getting to know him I must say I admire him all the more for being a full time working artist and supporting himself and his family doing what he loves.

Here’s what Josh had to say….


1. Why did you choose to pursue a career as a professional working artist?
When I was in college I enrolled in classes that steered me toward a business degree. The first week of classes I realized I would be going through college as someone else (so to speak). So I took the plunge into my passion and attempted to go for what was calling. An Art degree wasn’t the most career oriented / money making occupation, but it sounded amazing.

2. What is your ultimate vision of success for yourself as a professional working artist?
For me success as an artist is being able to produce what I know and love and get paid doing it. By doing so I’m striking the chord of emotion with the buyer/viewer. This only motivates me to paint more so I can keep filling people’s walls with positive energy.

3. What do you like most and least about this work of making and selling your art?
Going from a blank surface to a satisfied finished work is the most exhilarating part for me. Taking what’s stored in my mind to a visual element is what it’s all about. Having my own schedule is a plus. And watching someone walk a way with my work smiling is an unforgettable high. My least favorite part is what shows to book and the inconstancy of cash flow. I try hard not to let money get in the way, but when you have a wife, house, two daughters, and like to do things, it’s almost impossible for it not to once in a while. Another hard aspect is finding other ways to use your imagery (paintings) as other income opportunities. Lastly, at times just selling your art can be a tough gig.

4. What else do you do, along with art fairs, to sell and promote your work?
Until recently I had my Studio/Gallery for 5 years in a low traffic area here in Huntington Beach. I would hold 2 solo shows per year. Every show has a theme and I present 10-15 new paintings each show along with my growing collection of prints. I have a live guitar player, wine, sushi platter, cheese, fruit, etc. Usually I would get a feature in a paper or two which would help bring mostly locals. Also I mail out a few hundred cards from the mailing list I’ve compiled through my outdoor shows. Another way I promote is being on various sites throughout web, including my own. I have a company named Kava which has recently used a few of my images on their t-shirts. But most of all nothing beats word of mouth.

5. Do you also have gallery representation?
Pacific Surf Gallery in Cardiff by the Sea exhibits my work. Peter is the owner and his small quant Gallery is a must visit. It’s a very unique Gallery in the fact that it specializes in Beach/Surf Culture. The energy is far from stuffy.


7. If you listen to music while you paint, what’s you current favorite?
The Doors have and always will be a favorite. However I listen to a bundle of tunes. Anywhere from my buddy Jeremy Snyder to Miles Davis. What pumps me up are good lyrics and crisp music.

8. What’s your art studio feel like, look like? Do you ever have studio visitors?
When collectors and or visitors enter my studio much of the same reaction comes with a action painter and thrive through emotion and literal energy swings. Therefore causing paint to land where ever it pleases. I also use the big tubes of oil and various jars of medium that congregate like a work of art of their own. In fact I recently put together a five year pallet with finished used paint tubes, brushes that have turned to nubs, broken pallet knifes and whatever other tools I use to get the job done. I dammar varnished the lay out and the piece represents a five year duration from my studio. It I’ll be up for grabs during my winter 2008 show.

The photos in this blog are from Josh's studio!
To see Josh’s art visit his website at http://www.artbyserafin.com/
You can contact Josh Serafin at artbyserafin@verizon.net

New Work - One Small World

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One Small Word
© Deb Chaney 2007
Mixed Media, Acrylics on Canvas
16” x 16” ready to hang with 1” painted edges

Feng Shui Recommendation: Health & Vitality. Place this piece in the centre of your home or office walls to support inner health and vitality in your life.

$380.00 USD MasterCard/Visa accepted
(805) 403-9870 deb@debcreative.com


Last weekend Saturday morning I submitted a new piece entitled “One Small World” (shown above) to the Small Images show at the Atkinson Gallery at Santa Barbara City College. The ingathering was packed with a line up of artists submitting their small pieces also. I took a peek into the gallery and saw easily over a hundred small art pieces lined up against the walls. Waiting for jury.

Late Saturday afternoon I came back to pick up my piece and be told I was not accepted, me, and a lot of other artists left with their work. The gallery had a few clusters left of small art leaning along the walls. I’ll be curious to go see what art was chosen and perhaps glean some answers as to why those pieces were chosen over mine. The only criteria I was aware of was that the art piece had to be 18” x 18” or smaller and recently hand made by the artist.

We all get rejected if we take risks. Is it failure? Was it failure that Edison made hundreds and hundreds of attempts before he created the light bulb? Surely we would all agree it was just ‘what it took’ to get him to the end product – the light bulb. No, I think the failure is if we stop because we don’t get it on the first try, or the second try….

It’s also why enjoying the process, relishing the moments we’re in the studio creating are so important – because maybe we won’t be achieving the gallery show we were hoping for but maybe the real gift is who we are becoming in the process of creating that art. Not that we’re giving up on that gallery show!

I also received a great gift in learning from the Atkinson gallery curator who told me it was best to sign the back of my canvas painting in charcoal and spray it with a fixative instead of signing it with a jiffy market as I’d been doing. He explained that jiffy markers have been known to leak right through to the front of the canvas and their acidity also begin to deteriorate the work. Good tip.

The Small Images show started today - November 9th – and runs until Dec 17th. I’m going to go check it out and see what else I learn. Maybe I’ll get a better feel for what the jurer, Alison Saar , was looking for.

Great painting instructors in mixed media, collage and acrylics - part II

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Breakthrough
© Deb Chaney 2006
Mixed Media, Acrylics, Collage on Canvas
24” x 24” ready to hang with 1” painted edges
Feng Shui Recommendation: Fame and Reputation. Place this piece directly across from the front entrance of a room of your home.

$850.00 USD MasterCard/Visa accepted
(805) 403-9870 deb@debcreative.com
Prints available soon at http://www.cafepress.com/debchaney/





Here is another one of my favorite mixed media, collage and acrylic painting teachers, what I liked most about her teaching, how she’s influenced me, and what about her work that has intrigued and inspired me.

Ann Baldwin

What I liked most about Ann’s teaching is her humor – she’s British! She is so willing to share her techniques and materials and herself in the class room. Her workshop was relaxed and a lot of fun.

Ann got me really excited about finding intriguing pieces of paper and incorporating them into paintings. After taking her workshop earlier this year I decided to get organized with all the neat papers I’d been gathering and made alphabetically labeled folders so I can grab what I needed when I am in the middle of or starting a painting.


Ann also introduced me to the wonderful rubber shaper tool for writing into thin layer of acrylic paint mixed with polymer medium. As well, Anne’s teachings also influenced me by learning to incorporate C’aran Dash water soluble oil pastels into collage paintings. Thank you Ann!

What intrigues and inspires me most about Anne’s work is her use of the modern golden liquid acrylic colors in layering and glazing techniques to create a mystical blended look that layers paint with collage elements. I Love her style! I always remember being so intrigued the first time I saw one of her painting at Artamo gallery and looked at the writing and drawing into the paint. Her choice of colors; deep red and turquoise blue greens and how she integrate and combines them is wonderful. I like how often her painting has a subtle theme, intention, or message that unifies it.


If you can’t make a class but still would like to learn from Ann, she has a excellent instructional DVD with Creative Catalyst available.







Great painting instructors in mixed media, collage and acrylics

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All We Need Is Love
© Deb Chaney 2006
Mixed Media, Acrylics, Collage on Canvas
36” x 36” ready to hang with 1” painted edges
Feng Shui Recommendation: (creativity/children) Hang this painting in the Children and Creativity section of your home if you intend to invite more creativity or children into your life. From the entrance of your room or home, walk to the middle of the room and then turn right, that wall space will be the Children and Creativiy region.
- $1,850.00 USD MasterCard/Visa accepted
(805) 403-9870 deb@debcreative.com
Prints available at http://www.cafepress.com/debchaney/

Recently I am in jury process for membership to the Society of Canadian Artists (SCA) with the intent to spread my wings and become more involved with the Canadian art scene. As part of the application process I was asked about my art education and teachers I’d had along the way.

I’ve had some fantastic teachers and many of them I call and email regularly as they continue to act as mentors to me. I am so grateful for these teachers and cheerleaders that have all been a part of helping me to where I am today with my art. Thank you!

In this week I will share with you some of my favorite mixed media, collage and acrylic painting teachers, what I liked most about their teaching, how they’ve influenced me, and if pertinent, what about their work has intrigued and inspired me.


Lana Grow

Lana is extremely organized as a teacher. She comes to class with a clear curriculum and gives each student a full binder with all the notes, materials, techniques, resources, quotes and more that she will teach in class and some things she may not get to but are helpful.
Her workshops are 5 days long which really give you time to get involved in your paintings and learn the various techniques she’s teaching.

Lana is easy going, supportive, compassionate, loving, and encouraging. She will, as needed, veer from her plan to meet her students needs. She knows a truck load of methods and techniques in mixed media, collage, and acrylic painting and never holds back in class. You ask and she will give you 100%. I call her every now and then with questions to which she always delightfully answers! Thank you Lana!

I would say Lana’s influenced me most via the finishing techniques she showed me at her Energizing and Experimental Media workshop I took with her in Door County, WI at the Peninsula Art School. She taught me various ways to look at a painting and see whether it’s finished and then if it’s not feeling complete, she showed me tons and tons of tricks to get it to that finished place.

What I love about her work are all the layers of intrigue and mystery. I took her workshops because I kept looking at her art thinking: “how did she do that?” I love the sense of wonder her work imparts and I wanted to learn this too.
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Just home from Vancouver and settling back in, unpacking, cleaning house and ventured a peak into to the studio. First morning back and I wasn’t intending to do any work. Just take a look, see what I had in process. So one thing led to another and off I was painting again…just like that.


Well, there were a few things – tricks - in place that made it happen, I want to share those with you.

The first big trick is called “bridging”. The concept is that you leave your materials and project out in a way that allows you to come back in and start working again easily. For me I have a central place in my studio where all the basics are located and easily accessible.

Take a look at the photo at the bottom of this blog. I use a lot of stuff, so there is, well, a lot of stuff always out on the counter next to the sink in my studio. But the basics would apply to most painters – paper towels, water, garbage can, brushes, tools, current painting palette, gels and mediums ( if applicable), paper and notepad. They are on the counter and easily accessible purposefully, ready to go.

When all the tools are available the minute I get an idea for the next step of the painting, not much gets in the way between me reaching for paint, brush and water…so it’s easy to get started and back in the swing of things. I would say bridging is synonymous with ‘being organized’.

Another not so tricky trick is having good studio habits. I usually paint in the mornings, or at least go see what I’m doing to get ideas flowing. So, it’s no surprise really that even a day after getting back from vacation I’m back working because it’s my usual habit to go to the studio in the morning.

Lastly, I have a little framed reminder list in my studio about getting back into a project when we may be feeling a little resistant, slugging, unenthused, blocked, or out of touch with the work ..

Deb’s getting started shortlist



  1. Look what I’ve done already!



  2. Put materials that night before.



  3. Schedule 15 minutes the same time teach day for the project



  4. Set small goals or intention and write this on a sticky note next to the project materials. (ex. Glaze with green gold)



  5. Journal about what I’m working on and where I’m stuck and where I could use some help to move forward.



  6. Set low expectations for myself – today I’ll do a shitty rough draft, an imperfect under layer with lost of mistakes.



Supplies ready to go - buckets, soap, brushes, paints (current colour palette), mediums, pens, pencils, palette knives, garbage, folded paper towels, water spray, alcohol spray, sponse, sand, notebook.



Painting Inspiration from Quilting Books

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Ice Blue
© Deb Chaney 2006
Mixed Media, Acrylics on Canvas
24” x 36” ready to hang with 1” painted edges


Feng Shui Recommendation: Place this piece in the back left hand corner as you enter a room or home to activate further self cultivation and knowledge.


$1,275.00 USD MasterCard/Visa accepted
Ph (805) 403-9870 deb@debcreative.com
Prints soon available at http://www.cafepress.com/debchaney/




I met another artist at the First Thursday Art night downtown Santa Barbara several weeks ago who asked me how I got my painting inspiration. Well, I get inspiration from a zillion places but I thought I’d share some books with you that I’ve found particularly inspiring and supportive to abstract mixed media and collage painting lately.

Check out these quilting books, they have phenomenal images! It seems that quilting and painting have more in common that I would have guessed….

Creative Quilts by Sandra Meech









Creative Quilting: The journal quilt Project By Karey Patterson Bresenhan, ED








Ok, well this book is not a quilting book but it’s got such wonderful images and collage ideas I had to share it with you: 1000 Artist Trading Cards Patricia Bolton







What books have you come across that inspires your art? I'd love to hear from you in the comments section in this blog. Thank you.

Create Anywhere – painting while traveling

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Follow Your Heart
(c) Deb Chaney 2006
Mixed Media, Acrylics on Canvas
24” x 24” ready to hang with 1” painted edges

Feng Shui Recommendation: The piece can enhance Love & Relationships by placing it in the back right hand corner of your house or of the room you are decorating.

$850 USD MasterCard/Visa accepted
(805) 403-9870 deb@debcreative.com
Prints soon to be available at http://www.cafepress.com/debchaney/3492432


The hardest thing for me about being away (I am writing from Vancouver, Canada) is being away from my studio. Sometimes I wish I had a studio here so when I visited I could go to my space keep working on my paintings. But there is a little part of me that relishes the break from working on big pieces and uses the time to read books, sleep, go for long walks, see friends and do small creative projects while I’m here. The smaller projects keep me in my creative flow….


So I don’t completely disengage from my painting when I travel, and I do this by bringing my “create anywhere” kit with me. This kit is a large size MEC wash bag with the following items; Caran D’Ache water soluble and non water-soluble wax oil pastels, 2 oz Golden soft gel and extra heavy gel medium, scotch tape, pens and pencils – I like to bring those Derwent water soluble pencils, and small blunt end child scissors ( they won’t take those away from you at the airport if you put the kit on your carry on), small paint brush, and a palette knife. Here’s a photo from a previous blog. I didn’t bring any little 1 oz Golden liquid paints this trip but next time I think I will. I also forgot to bring a small jar of Murphey’s Oil Soap, mum had some in her cleaning supplies so it worked out, but this is essential for cleaning up acrylic paints while preserving the integrity of the brush. I didn’t pack them this time, but next trip I might also bring a few 1 oz bottles of Golden liquid acrylics paint along with some polymer gloss medium.


In the gesture of creative automation, pioneered by Robert Motherwell, my daughter Ruth and I took seven blank sheets of paper each, and using our newly purchased children’s tempera paints, stencils, pencils and whatever else I could find around the house to make markings and textures and we dug in and each painted solidly for a good amount of time. They weren’t pretty or beautiful but the action reminded my being of the motions of painting, and I felt like I had brought my virtual studio here to Vancouver!

The concept of creative automation is very similar to a martial artist practicing basic kicks and punches in the air hundreds of times so that his body intuitively knows the move, when he gets to the fight he no longer has to think. The moves become automatic and intuitive. That’s the goal with painting. It doesn’t really matter what we work on and we can even do it in our minds – mind sculpture of imagining painting has the same effect in our bodies ( our bodies doesn’t know the difference) painters can do the same thing. Kinesthetically ingrain in our bodies how to paint. Practice, repetition, process is the way.

Funny thing is all those dried up paintings became great cut and paste collage material a few days later ( totally unplanned!) and we both had another evening of fun cutting up the paintings and making collage on other blank sheets of paper. I did the collage and spiced up my journal with decorate collage images. I’ll see if I can get a few photos.

I’d love to hear from you and I’m curious how you stay in your creative groove when you’re away from home.? Please leave a comment at the bottom of this blog in the comment section. Keep creating!

Little Magic Moments of Creativity

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Opening Up
Deb Chaney 2006
Mixed Media, Acrylics on Canvas
30” x 40” ready to hang with 1” painted edges
Feng Shui Recommendation: Intention is for Health and Vitality, place in the center of your home or office to enrich your Health and Vitality. $ 1,775.00 USD MasterCard/Visa accepted
(805) 403-9870 deb@debcreative.com
Prints soon to be available at http://www.cafepress.com/debchaney/3492432


Yesterday, before traveling up to Vancouver with my daughter to visit family, I had a small amount of time in the morning in between packing the car, getting myself ready and getting my family up and ready to go.

So…I went into my studio to say good bye and have one last little studio visit. Every night closing up my studio is somewhat of a heart ache and often hard for me to do. I hate to close the door and really acknowledge I’m done for the day. It makes me feel sad. I’ve never done it yet – only for naps during the day – but one night I think I’m going to sleep over with my paintings in the studio all night and see how that goes. Then I won’t have to close up and say good night!

So, to relish my last moments in the studio, I put on some creative mind music (Creative Mind System – free you artistic expression, by Dr. Jeffrey Thompson) and jumped on the re-bounder and just looked around at all the pieces in progress and projects on the go. For a while now I’ve been taken in with those Pure Abstraction pieces and they have been a predominant focus. I finished two of the three and when I’m home will have them photographed for you to see – check back around the end of October. But as well as working on those I’ve been working on a few layered Adolfo style pieces that remind me of watermarks and layers of water and that have really captured me.

But today, in this little magic moment of time, before jetting off to Portland and then Vancouver, what caught my eye were the paper pieces I have had hanging on the studio wall for weeks. You May be able to catch glimpses of these mid-process pieces in the video Peter and I did as we move around the studio and work on our joint piece.

These long left paper pieces, the beginning of a body of work entitled “Vitality” have analogous earth tone colors – naples yellow and iron oxide yellows, iridescent golds and copper, burn umbers, iron oxide reds as their grounds and are similar in color tone and also have the same *Feng Shui Recommendation to the painting shown today at the top of this blog ‘Opening Up’ as well as my last post ‘Leaping into the Unknown’ .

These paper works are specifically about Vitality – what is it to be truly alive? That is the question I have been pondering with these. But they’ve been hanging around the studio, untouched for a while, until this small crack in time when I knew I was leaving, and suddenly these paintings called my name and looked more appealing then ever.

I ended up grabbing my squirt bottle full of black gesso and, like icing a cake, carefully drew a line of little rings along the bottom of one of the painting called; “No mistakes”. Ahhh…it was such a little magic moment of creativity to make that little change, that small step, and move forward on this painting. A true delight. Felt so good.

I relished that small moment all day while entertaining – more like placating - my four year old on two airplanes trips and in waiting rooms at the airport. I kept thinking back to that little moment in time working on my painting. So, maybe it was two minutes, but sometimes that’s all we need.

Keep creating. Notice the magic. The gifts are in the process and the practice.

Note:
*Feng Shui Recommendation- I will write more about Feng Shui and using this ancient space decorating concept to art. For now, If you’d like more information about this you can visit my website at http://www.debcreative.com/fengshui.htm.

News Flash - Painting Video & Art Opening

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Leaping Into the Unknown

Deb Chaney 2006

Mixed Media, Acrylics on Canvas
30” x 40” ready to hang with 1” painted edges
$1,775.00 MasterCard/Visa accepted

(805) 403-9870 deb@debcreative.com

Prints soon to be available at http://www.cafepress.com/debchaney/3492432

First off, Peter finished the video of us painting with his digital magic it's got music and special effects and makes me want to climb into the video and start painting with us again! Want to do something like this yourself? Contact Peter at: peter moraites [petermoraites@yahoo.com].

Went downtown Santa Barbara to the First Thursday Art walk this evening and made my way to Artamo, my favorite contemporary abstract gallery. Here is a photo of the owner, my friend Jack Mohr and his wife Monica. They are standing in front of a magnificent, and my current favorite painting by Michelle Williams. The gallery was showing an exhibition of Michelle Y. Williams and Ray Philips (can’t find his website but his art is shown on the Artamo website).

Well, all I can say is I am Michelle's biggest fan. I absolutely love her work. It enthralls me, moves me, inspires me, and awes me. It makes me want to go back to my studio and paint and throw sand at my painting and buy a bigger palette knife and then go back and ogle some more at her work. She is brilliant!

Fringe Benefits of Creativity

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Vermont in a Snowstorm
24” x 36” Mixed Media, Acrylics on canvas
Ready to hang, no frame required, 1” thick painted edges. Deb Chaney 2006
$1,275 USD Visa/MasterCard Accepted
(805) 403-9870 deb@debcreative.com
Prints Available at www.cafepress.com/debchaney

The other night I came in from my studio to use the *loo and peered into the mirror to see my eyes glowing like two green lanterns – alight with the glow of creative bliss. They say that he eyes are the doorway to the spirit and in that vein I think being in creative process really helps open those doors up.

As a working artist, one who paints and sells her work, much of the time I am considering the end product that may be hanging on the wall in your home. But let me tell you the real juice is in the process – the making of the art.

Being in the creative process is a tap into the other side, into the unconscious, into bliss, into a place where no time exists at all. And if I only had one goal, it would be to practice, practice, practice and stay in that place that keeps my spirit aglow.

In Jill Badonsky’s most recent Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching Training class she spent a class talking about the fringe benefits of creativity. How when we create it will elevate our mood, we tend to feel better and tap into places of delight and joy. Studies have shown that being creative improves eyesight and overall health. Doing a creative project enables us to become more focused, create and achieve goals – no matter how small- teaching us focus. The list goes on, bottom line is when we get out of her heads and into the process the benefits are food for the soul.

Have you fed your spirit lately? Go make something – make a mess, just practice. Have fun.

(*British slang for toilet)

Featured Artist - October Muse Newsletter

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Exploring 10" x 10"
Mixed Media, Arylics on Canvas
$150 each. 1" thick finished edges, ready to hang.
Visa/Mstc Accepted.
(805)403-9870


This month I am the featured artist for the Muse Is In monthly newsletter. You can get the newletter by subscribing on the Muse Is In homepage. Jill Badonsky is the founder of the Muse is in and her book The Nine Modern Day Muses and Bodygurad along with the Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching Program were all designed to support mortals in creative process. Here is the longer un-cut version of the interview.
Did you receive your formal art training?
Not really. I didn’t go to ‘proper’ art school, more like I went to the “art school of life”. Six years ago I saw the art of LA artist Adolfo Girala at an outdoor art fair. Adolfo’s art intrigued me, drew me in, and I was hooked. I was lucky in that he very kindly took me under his wing. Several studio visits and several years of practice later – and still a life time more to go – I am painting at the level which I’m at today. I’ve also taken workshops with Bob Burridge, Anne Baldwin, Nancy Reyner and Lana Grow.

Creative time of the day for you:
Morning, first thing! Yeah, I’m one of those morning people. J I jump out of bed, can’t wait to tackle my current project. Especially when every one is sleeping. Sometimes I wake up at 4 am and start paintings.

Do you have a mantra or motto?
Currently it’s; “The more I trust, the better life gets” (subject to change). “Breathe” is another one I like.

Key to your perseverance
mmmmm….Holding the vision that via my success I empower other artists to make it as well. I love the challenge of being a working professional artist and figuring it out along the way – how do you apply to galleries and get submitted? how to sell your art on your own? Where to sell? These things inspire me and keep me persevering – a relishing of the challenge, but most of all a love of ht e process. I absolutely fricken’ love painting.

Best advice received
Do what you love, the money will follow.

Next book?
I am currently working with a graphic artist creating a new brochure exhibiting my Raw Expression pieces as well as describing their Feng Shui meaning and giving tips to placing the art in your home/office.

Most favorite achievement
Cycle touring around Iceland with myself one summer. Great trip. Lots of magic moments and the experience of a lifetime. There are a few trip photos and stories about this trip in The Little Inspiration Book, Ideas to Empower Women.

How you get ideas for paintings?
Other artists, online, shadows on the side walk, scenes in movies, scenes in life, from my unconscious, from my previous paintings, art books….
Favorite studio music.
Currently I’m enjoying “The Proclaimers” Sunshine on Leith album. (always changing)
Next big goal
I would like to create a body of work to exhibit with the intention of raising awareness of the fringe benefits of creativity, how simply being creative makes us happier, healthier, more focused, improves eye sight, may enable us to live longer, keep goals, and so much more. I would love to have an artists talk and demonstration as part of the exhibition. I would also like to give some of the proceeds to a charity that is in line with the premise that being creative helps people be happier. If you know of a nonprofit out there, please do let me know – deb@debcreative.com – thank you.
Where people can see your work?
3 places right now – to see work fresh out of the studio, best place is to visit my blog http://debchaney.blogspot.com/, as I will make a point of posting new pieces at the top of each entry. For work existing and sold see my website http://www.debcreative.com/ and for prints, posters, mugs, magnets all with my art images on them you can visit http://www.cafepress.com/debchaney.

And coming soon in art galleries in Vancouver, Montreal, Scottsdale, LA, NY, Santa Fe, Seattle…


Art Supplies

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I've been asked a number of times; where do you buy your art supplies? Here is where I buy my art supplies online:

http://www.cheapjoes.com/
http://www.misterart.com/ - I really like how organized their site is, very easy to navigate.
http://www.dickblick.com/
http://www.arizonaartsupply.com/
http://www.michaels.com/ - mainly craft things but I found some wonderfully large palette knives there the other day!

Here in town I go to Santa Barbara Art Essentials only when I'm out of something and need it quickly b/c they are quite expensive.

and, hands down, the world over, my favourite art store is OPUS Art Supply on Granville Island in Vancouver!!! I will be there next week as my daughter and I will be in Vancouver.

Co-Creation Collaboration with Pete Moraites

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Last Saturday Peter Moraites drove up from Santa Monica and came up to co-create some mixed media - digital art with me. If you don’t know about Peter he was the #1 digital artist on you tube (over 100,100 downloads) based on his piece called “Hypnotize yourself” I could have the name wrong. Check it out for yourself. Anyways, Peter has vibrant energy and is passionate about art and creativity. (see past blog post on Hurrah Peter for more on Pete). We had a blast in the studio creating a 30” x 40” canvas piece with gels and mediums, papers, foils, liquid and full bodied acrylics, powder pigments, and liquid metals. Layering, scraping, dancing, photographing were all part of the process. The final piece will be called “Faith” so keep tuned for its completion…I will post it on this blog.


Peter took some fabulous new shots of me for my upcoming Raw Expression brochure as well he created an awesome collage piece – Sebastian style – with images of myself entwined in our painting. Peter loves to co-create with other artists. If you like what you see, and we’re not done yet – he’s working on a little video podcast of me painting and a comic strip series of photos – he could do the same for you. You can contact Peter at pete@petemoraites.com.

Everything Counts

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I haven’t written for a while and am giving myself total compassion. Life has been busy. As a working artist and also as a student of the creative process I am aware of the fact that everything counts that everything we do -parenting, our jobs, how we are in relationships, how we take care of our bodies, how we manage our finances - is a creative endeavor. And everything counts! It all matters.

For me, I manage by having deeply ingrained habits and rituals in place so that I get to the non-urgent things but important things, like painting, in my life.

Usually mornings are my studio time, when it's quiet and everyone is sleeping. Or very late at night, again when it's quiet and everyone is (hopefully!) sleeping.

Mondays are my "magical money management" days and that's when I pay bills, reconcile accounts, and do the book keeping support for my husband's company. I don't even think about what I do on Mondays, it's automatic that I'll be at my desk most of the day- and this really works for me.

Tuesdays are my “toot my horn Tuesdays” where I work on marketing and promotion of myself and my work. Website updates, creating a new brochure, adding contacts to my database, and reading the online blogclass I am currently taking with Alyson Stanfield (www.artbizcoach.com).

So far those two days along with morning studio times are solid. I’m looking forward to forming more rituals that serve me in creating my goals - especially taking time out for self care, more studio time (!), and fun time with my family.

I'm still working on a house cleaning ritual and I'd love to hear your comments and how you fit it into your life!(1-800-Mollyl Maid?) :-)

I call this photo "The motherhood pull" . Ruthie (age 4) needs a lot of attention; the trick is to balance it so I can get my needs met too. This morning I gave her own big canvas and some paints. This kept her busy and gave me time to work on some paintings in the studio. See what she created!

How do you manage your art with your life? We al have the same struggle with juggling it all. It's the little tricks that keep us coming back to doing what we love regularly. I’d love to hear about your tricks to make time.