Breathing Space: French Beach -- west coast of Vancouver Island British Columbia

Every summer Ruthie and I go camping for a week and have a wonderful time just being in nature and doing a few things such as:

rock collecting

sending out a message in a bottle

rock art

campfires

hikes

beach days

sand castles

writing in the sand

wave jumping

ocean swimming

Here are some photos of our Breathing Space week in nature at French Beach, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia last July 2012. 

 Ruthie took this photo looking up a Douglas Fir tree. Always love adding her photos into this 'Breathing Space' blog. :)

 The trail from out campside down to the beach.

 Wonderful contrast of a leaf floating in a dark stream.

 We could not just sit and be with these rocks. We had to stack them and make art with them!!!

 God always makes the best art and inspires me every time. 

 Huge sea  anenomies (sp?) and barnacles the size of a child's hand - huge! So much richness of sea life on the west coast to see in the tide pools. Hours of looking into these worlds!

 We decied to make a line of rocks from the top of the beach to the shore this day.

 Endless fun by the fire. Especially on the last night when we burned all the remaining fire wood! The park ranger stopped by to make sure "everything was OK". !!! Everything was fine. We just had a super big fire!!!!

My current fav picture of us! We took five pictures to get this. All of the first five, I held the camera and half of my face is cut out of all of them, then Ruthie told me she could do it better and took this one first try!!!

 Beach art, making inukshucks on logs. Little stone status. Can be challenging balancing them!

 Ruthie joined forces with another familiy and made the sand casttle of a a life time. Here she is with the little boy building a barrier to stop the ocean from coming in and destroying their wonderful creation!

 Sand Casttle extravaganza closer up!

 OK, we got a bit obsessed with the rock art! What can I say. I had to make some art that week!!!

 Just in love with how the west coast rainforest meets the beach. So much beauty in the details.

 I love how when yoiu are in nature and camping you don't have to do  anything.  Just be there and the earth, air, water, nature around  you supports you, embraces you, calms you, heals you, gives you exactly what you need just by being there.

 These last two pictures are  from a day trip we took a little further north up the west coast from French beach. It's called Mystic beach and for about a 40 minute hike we got there and enjoyed amazing weather, sand, a rope swing, picnic by the sea and...

this beautiful fresh water waterfall falling straight from above onto the beach and then flowing into the ocean. Yes we stood under it and had a shower! wonderful!

Yoga, Ayurveda, and Creativity

Yoga, Ayurveda, and Creativity

Based on the new book Misadventures of a Garden State Yogi ©2012 by Brian Leaf.  Published with permission of New World Library http://www.newworldlibrary.com

I’m thinking of new ideas all the time. So much so that sometimes I can get spun out and exhausted. My wife, on the other hand, has a much easier time staying grounded and pacing her energy.  Though she’s not quite as quick with new ideas.

Ayurveda, the 5000-year-old medical system from India, often called the sister science of yoga, has a lot to say about my wife and me. According to Ayurveda, there are different types of people, and these different types have different strengths, challenges, and needs.

Ayurveda identifies three primary tendencies within people, called vata, pitta, and kapha. Vata is the energy of air; pitta is the energy of fire; and kapha is the energy of water and earth.

A person, like me, with a constitution dominant in vata will have airy qualities (creative, quick, possibly anxious). A person with a constitution dominant in pitta will have fiery qualities (intense, focused, possibly overly critical). A person, like my wife, with a constitution dominant in kapha will have earthy qualities (steadfast, grounded, possibly stuck).

A vata person will be well endowed in the creativity department. New ideas and creative solutions flow freely for such a person. Their challenge, like mine, is to stay grounded and not get spun-out and exhausted from too many creative ideas. We have to make sure to see our ideas through and not lose steam half way through a project. By calming our vata, we can be wildly creative but also focused and steadfast.

A pitta person will be incisive and intelligent, often set on a fixed course of action and less open to creativity and new ideas. Surgeons are usually pitta individuals. They are confident, focused, and intense. A pitta person can retain their great focus, but bring in more creativity and tolerance of new ideas by soothing their pitta.

A kapha person, like my wife, usually has terrific endurance and resolve. She easily stays grounded, but creativity does not flow as freely. She may sometimes feel stuck and blocked up. By soothing her kapha and increasing her vata, she can harness her tremendous strength and resolve, while also tapping her latent creativity.

So how can you effect this change in yourself? First you must identify your Ayurvedic constitution. To determine whether vata, pitta, or kapha predominates your constitution, take the following short quiz.

1. Under stress, I become __________.

A. scattered and anxious         B. focused and angry              C. stuck

2. When I’m hungry, I get __________.

A. scattered and anxious         B. angry                                  C. depressed

3. I hate to feel _________.

A. too cold                              B. too hot                                C. too wet

4. My biggest psychological struggles involve __________.

A. anxiety                   B. being judgmental, irritation, anger C. feeling stuck

5. When I have digestive problems, they involve ___________.

A. intestinal gas and bloating  B. heartburn

C. slow digestion, feeling stuck

6. When I get sick, I feel ___________.

A. Worried, fried, constipated.           B. Fevers, skin rashes, diarrhea.        

C. Congested, stagnant, blocked up.

Count the number of As, Bs, and C’s in your answers.

Mostly A’s indicate vata, mostly B’s pitta, and mostly C’s kapha.

           

Now to bring balance and increased creativity. For your particular predominance (vata, pitta, or kapha), choose three of the six items listed below and follow them for at least a week and see what happens. You’ll probably feel a whole new level of health, vitality, and creativity. Let us know how it goes at BrianLeafMA@gmail.com.

If the six question survey shows a predominance of Vata:

1. Keep warm, and wear soft, comfortable clothing. Make your bed into a soft, comfy haven.

2. Eat mostly cooked foods and use a bit of spice. Eat at a table, in a relaxed setting, not on the go or at your desk.

3. Keep a regular routine, and look over your schedule at the beginning of each day, so your mind can relax and know what’s coming.

4. Practice gentle forms of exercise.

5. Spend quiet time in nature, ideally near a lake or gently flowing stream. Sit under a tree.

6. Avoid or cut back on caffeine, wheat, sugar, and processed foods.

 If the six question survey shows a predominance of Pitta:

1. Keep cool. Get lots of fresh air, but avoid too much direct sun. Take evening walks in the moonlight. The moon is very soothing to pitta.

2. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

3. Avoid very spicy, very salty, and very oily foods.

4. Watch your tendency toward perfectionism, competition, and intensity. Bring in softness and love.

5. Express your feelings in constructive ways. Be gentle on yourself and others.

6. Avoid or cut back on caffeine, wheat, sugar, and processed foods.

 If the six question survey shows a predominance of Kapha:

1. Get lots of vigorous exercise, everyday.

2. Avoid fatty and fried foods. Eat lots of veggies and cook with a bit of spice.

3. Eat less bread.

4. Avoid getting in a rut. Try new things, take challenges, travel.

5. Practice expressing your voice and your feelings and spend some time creating every day. Draw, paint, sculpt, sing, dance, play an instrument, imagine.

6. Avoid or dramatically cut back on wheat, sugar, and processed foods.

Printed with Permission ©2012 by Brian Leaf 

Brian Leaf, M.A. is the author of Misadventures of a Garden State Yogi. He draws upon twenty-one years of intensive study, practice, and teaching of yoga, meditation, and holistic health. Visit him online at http://www.Misadventures-of-a-Yogi.com.

Turning your painting practice pieces into sellable art

This blog is dedicated to every single one of my students who  have taken my foundation workshop in abstract painting in acrylics and mixed media, particularly those of you who were with me this last month - thank you. Thank you for having the courage to show up. Thank you for having the courage to take risks and play. And most of all, thank you for trusting me and allowing yourself to make crap art. To allow yourself to practice, to play, to make shit art and be OK with is. Knowing that getting in the painting groove, into your own process, and re-igniting your creative fire - for this weekend experience at least - was  more important than coming out with  perfectly finished art pieces.

So, here's a few ideas of what you can do with some of those little paintings you might have done on canvas pads or thick water color paper or acrylic mixed media paper. The paintings that perhaps didn't turn out, the ones that you've lost interest in, the pieces whose composition fell short but who you do no feel like going back to and working and re-working. We all have them. Now it's time to turn them into something functional and have fun doing it!

Turning your painting practice pieces into sellable art, a few ideas, but really the only limit is YOUR creativity:

NOTE: For all the following craft projects use YES! Paste because it's made to dry flat. Put a layer of plastic over it once you've glued it down and then put a brick or a few heavy books to glue it down nice and flat.

1. Art cards ( buy the blank ones at a craft store such as Michael's and then glue on covers from your practice piece. Ahhh yes, now you know why I had the paper cutter at the back of the workshop room! I was cutting up my practice pieces and making gift cards while you were painting yours!!!)
2. Book marks ( cut the art piece in a long rectangle and get it laminited)
3. Artist trading cards ( I wrote a blog about that last year or the year before, check it out for all the details)
4. Blank notepads with your art on the cover ( Last year I took all the old programs from the Culture Crawl and had them bound at a printer into little blank recycled paper note pads and then used my old art canvas pieces make excellent covers - especially when you use Kroma Crackle Paste, it looks like leather!!! Use a view finder on the art piece you're done with and find the sweet spot for the art on the cover of your card.  People Love to buy these that want a piece of art but are not ready to commit to a big piece)
5. Collage - cut up the old art and collage it into other new paintings (recycle!)
6. Magnets (cut the canvas pad piece into any shape. Re-in force it with cardboard. Glue a magnet to the back of it. Optional: Pour resin over it to give it gloss and depth!! On  a personal note I was soooo wanting to do this and make a bunch of magnets for the upcoming culture crawl open studio show but at this point I just don't think I"ll have time :-( )
7. Homemade journals (cut out the best picture from the practice art piece on loose canvas and glue it to a blank journal. I like to put a sticker or my biz card on the back to give it a signature feel.)

Hate reading? Yeah, I have those days...Wanna see me talk about this live and see some pictures of what I'm talking about? 

Here you go... YouTube video link:

Turning your painting practice pieces into sellable art

This is a short video from a workshop whereby I am showing my practice art pieces and the things I 

have made from them and sold at art shows and fairs:

http://youtu.be/T_8xrXznnKI

Artist Interview with Dana Dion

This month I'd like to introduce you to award winning Australian artist Dana Dion. Dana and I met via The Beaumont Studios here in Vancouver where I was giving a talk about the "3 WOW's" and the secrets behind what makes some abstract paintings sell while others sit in the studio collecting dust. Dana brought her ipad with her to share her portfolio and I became entranced with her work and wanted to know more about her and her process.... 

Dana, I have to admit I was intrigued by your accent when you spoke. Personally I grew up in Canada with a South African mother and Australian father so I've had my own small exposure to various accents, but the way you spoke I could not peg it! Could you share with us your childhood and how you came to live in so many places?

I was born in Israel. When I was two years old, my family moved back and forth between Kenya, Tanzania and Israel. We eventually settled in Vancouver when I was 14. My husband is Dutch, also with an accent. We have been living in Sydney Australia for the past 12 years, and before that, we spent three years in London. Maybe this is why Deb, you could not "peg it" I think it is a "mish mash" of accents. I call it: my own special brew. 

Generous Morning (c) Dana Dion

It also seems from reading your biography on your website that you were first more focussed on fitness - teaching pilates, yoga and personal training - before you came into the artistic portion of your life. How did art come into your life and please do tell us about this transition from tri-athlete and beauty pageant persona to working artist....

I see myself as a creative person. I always try and find a creative aspect in what I do, and believe that creativity can be executed in many ways: As an artist, as a creator and inventor, as a business owner, and as a Pilates yoga and Fitness teacher etc.... It is all creative to me. And with that comes a creative journey.  This journey is where you explore different ways to express. 

Unbounded (c) Dana Dion

Looking at your portfolio online I can see that you do work in a number of styles - still life, abstracts, landscape, etc. Is there one particular style that you enjoy the most. Why?

I work with passion and feeling. I am not precious about subject matter or technique.

It is the process and the act of creating that I am interested in.

I just want to express,and feed back into the image as it develops, allowing the result to dictate where I take it next.

Sometimes my work alludes to landscapes, sometimes to figurative, or abstracts.

The theme is of secondary importance to me, and I like to paint whatever comes to mind. Lately, I have made landscape paintings. I have a lot of fun with topics and styles, that sometimes do not matter at all, and sometimes they may be personal.

 

Dana, please tell us about your painting process. In particular I loved the process you shared with me when we spoke at the Beaumont about how sometimes you paint a surface and then stamp or lift another canvas onto that and then use this to inspire a painting... I've never heard of this before!  

My works are drawing and  paintings, as they represent both working methods. 

The canvas or paper serves as the basis of the work, I apply many layers of paint and build up paint quality. I then start introducing my mark makings, drawing lines and motifs I collect in my memory, developing my own language. I keep going until I am satisfied With what I see.

Other working methods include drawing using pastel, charcoal, ink, pen and pencil on paper. I also like the Intimacy of working on paper as it lends itself to  personal imagery.

Drawing allows for integration of my acquired language of mark making and vocabulary of semiotics, and for the freedom to let the paper play a large part in the finished work.

The process I mentioned previously, is a simple printmaking technique which gives exciting results. It is a method which produces a single print from a smooth sheet of metal, glass or acetate. which is used as the printing plate. 

I use a big sheet of perspex.

I apply paint (mixed with retarder) and ink and create shapes, or rub off some of the paint, and just have fun on the plate. Then I place un-stretched canvas or paper onto the plate, and use a roller to apply pressure and lift the image from the plate onto the support. I do this multiple times (allow to dry between layers) until I am happy with the image. I then stretch the canvas onto a frame, (don't need to do that with paper) and start to work on "resolving" the composition. 

That could be by adding more paint in areas, defining certain areas, push back some areas, etc....

I love working this way method. It is a great way to "start" a piece.

What's your favorite all time favorite art piece of yours and why? Your favourite art piece of another artist?

Usually when I paint family members, those works become my favourite. I get attached to them. They are created with lots of though, feelings and memories of moments with them. Reminding me of how important they are to me. Those pieces become important and I end up keeping them.

The Professor (c) Dana Dion

What are you working on currently ( a new series, a calendar,other) and please tell us about it...

my current work consists of landscapes examining different places. The landscapes aim to define or locate a place where I belong. I chase the feelings of belonging and look for a reaction to the feeling. The landscapes do not depict a specific place, but rather a memory or recording of the many places I have lived in: no borders, boundaries or identified area. 

For you, What the best thing about being and artist?

Being an artist makes me look and see. I am never bored. I am always searching for images and symbols to add to my visual language and I try to notice everything. I find it a great challenge to create an image on blank surface that can give people pleasure and ability to see whatever their minds want to see or needs to see.

its the greatest feeling to "Catch" someone looking, really looking, at your work. I think this is great. 

Fishing and Thinking (c) Dana Dion

For you, What 's the most challenging thing about being an artist? 

Resolving works is the challenge. Making it all come together. And making the time to do it.

Telling Stories (c) Dana Dion

How would you define success  for yourself as an artist? What are some success you have achieved thus far on your journey, and what has been a key factor in you achieving your success?

I guess what defines it for me is the validation of my efforts by being included in selective art shows and receiving awards. 

I know the awards are subjective and they do depend on the judges, but for my work to be noticed and singled out from hundreds of works, is a great feeling.

I started exhibiting my work in 2006, and since then have won over 25 awards, I guess that defines achieving success to me.

What 3 pieces of advice would you give to other artists -- specifically to other painters, perhaps younger than yourselves looking for advice and inspiration?

The more you paint, the better you get. you need to spend lots of time in the studio. It does pay off.

Misty Voyage (c) Dana Dion

What recent or upcoming shows/and or gallery representation can we look out for or go and see of your work?

In August I had a solo show in Sydney Australia, where I live, showcasing my recent landscapes.  It was called Without Borders. It would be great to have a show in Vancouver. As my landscapes have Vancouver in them.

Dana, Thank you for taking the time to partake in this interview! 

Breathing Space: Goldstream Park on Vancouver Island

These are some snap shots from a family hike we took in August at GoldStream Park located  just outside of Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC. 

Loving the lushness of this forest!

Ruthie leading the way.

Looking up at the trees - thanks for the reminder James! The day seems to always get better when you look up and enjoy the beauty of the trees!

Down the stairs to a surprise below!

A beautiful pool and waterfall awaited us. I went in the pool in the back and swam to the waterfall. I could not belive how wonderfully warm the water was!

Ruthie wading around the dam.

Enjoying the waterfall.

Ruthie on the otherside of the little lake, enjoying nature.

The water was so clear!

Back up the stairs. Good exersice!

Nothing like walking down a forest path.

Until next time Goldenstream. Bless, bless!

My secret weekly system that has helped make my dream come true!

This  blog is based on a request from Kim, a beautiful young woman I recently met at her book club. At the book club meeting, I spoke about some things I’ve done and steps I’ve taken to make my creative dreams reality. (Thank you so much for having me!)

Chances are you weren’t there, so I thought I’d briefly share with you what we covered at our talk and also Kim’s question of my weekly working schedule since we ran out of time at the end and didn’t fully get to that.

The first thing we talked about was getting clear on your goal or dream and writing it down. Then afterwards, writing down a single action you can take in the direction of your dream/goals. Use the litmus test of being able to do this one step/action in a minute or less.

For example. If your goal is to become a painter and have an exhibit, a small step could be to lay out your brushes, tools and paints in your painting spot. This would take under a minute.

It seems trivial to do such a small thing towards a big goal, however the logic is two fold. First  is that if the step is small enough it’ll by pass the amygdulah in your brain – the center of flight or fight and carry on to your cerebral cortex – the creative thinking brain. Hence, if you keep your steps small, you’ll be able to move forward without blocks.

The second reason is that when you take just a small step, under a minute, such as the example above, your subconscious starts working on it even when you are not physically doing anything. You may start day dreaming about what you are going to paint or what colours you are going to use. You are getting excited and putting energy towards your dream/goals, so this is a great things.

Thirdly, there is the law of attraction where if you are in an energetic mind set of, say, “being a painter”.. you’re thinking about your project, your painting place, your brushes, what you might paint, you will automatically attract things in these areas. Perhaps someone will give you an old paint set or invite you to share a studio space. Who knows. The law of attraction can work in wondrous ways that in the past you may have considered coincidence, and now you can take more personal power and realize you had a piece in creating this.

We also covered SMIGLS which I have discussed previously in this blog: http://debchaney.blogspot.ca/2007/12/smigs.html  (Pls note I added the L later on and it stands for Learn, as in what did I learn today?)

And lastly Kim’s question about some tricks I use during the week to continue to grow and evolve and support my dream despite life happening, challenges being thrown in the mix, blocks, excuses and everything else that gets in our way to making those big dreams come true that may never be urgent.

My - up until now - Secret Weekly Schedule to Support my Creative Dream

Mondays  are my money management day. This doesn't mean I manage my money all day, no. It simply means that every Monday I have the intention to take care of myself financially in some way. It could mean paying my bills. It could be calling the bank about a charge I did not recognize. It could be writing a grant proposal to (hopefully) achieve some funding in the future. I think you get the idea.

The thing is, it could just be that I spend five minute on this focus and then that is a success for me. I created this system when I was single parenting full time, working part time at a day job and ramping up my business as a professional artist as it appears now on my website. Point being, it’s just a small thing you do in the area of focus that in the long term is a small step towards your bigger goal and dream.

Tuesday is “toot my horn” marketing day. I got this name from that book “how to toot your horn without blowing it” which was about self promotion. So on Tuesday I do, at least, one thing to promote myself as a contemporary abstract artist and workshop facilitator. It could be writing a blog and then posting this on linked in and Facebook and twitter. It could be putting up a postcard with regards to my upcoming art show.  Anything that puts me and my business out in the world qualifies. Again, it can be really small and simply, such as posting an image of a recent painting I have for sale on social media. The point is that I’m putting myself out there in the name of the dream.

Wednesday is my web day. This day I put aside for all things web related. This could be updating my cafepress store ( long overdue, I need to do this!!!), updating my website, writing my newsletter content, working on an in artist interview with another artist.  Basically it's the one day a week whereby if I[‘m on my computer all day, it’s totally OK.

Thursday is self care.  On Thursday I make a conscious effort to close my computer, leave the phone and unplug.  My favorite way to spend a Thursday is with a book by the ocean, a river or in a park. Maybe I’ll bring my journal along. Maybe I’ll stay in bed until 2 pm.  The focus is doing as little as possible and being and just resting and enjoying life. It could also be a day for an artist date. Or if you follow my blog you know that often once a month I post some images from a hike or outdoor experience I call breathing space. This really sums up Thursday for me – it’s a day to stop and breathe.

Fridays are follow up days. I keep a list in my contacts of people, companies, jobs, shows I’m applying to, etc. So, again its really simply. I go through the list and make emails or phone calls as needed. For example, someone called me earlier during the week about the September workshop running at the end of this month. Friday would be the day I would habitually get back to them if I had not already.

Saturday I always file my paperwork from the week and aim at doing a general tidy up/organize… If I was more diligent I could say that Saturday are cleaning days but I cant remember the last time I kept to that schedule.

When I created this system, ideally Sundays  were for planning the week and also going back to my vision boards, goals and seeing where I am and where I want to be. Again, I’ve been slacking on this one lately so I must say it was cool to meet with the book club because I pulled out my life vision goal book and dusted it off for the talk as I had not reviewed it for a while!!!

I hope  this helps you take action in small steps and with kindness and compassion with yourself. As always, it’s the process and journey that is the true gift, you’ll get there if you do the work, but let’s get there mindfully and make it fun along the way, then it’s a real success all the way around!

Xoxoox

Deb

Artist Interview: Janet Sadel

Janet Sadel

This month, I'd like to introduce ARC artist in residence Janet Sadel, Photographer and Interdisciplinary Artist originally from Toronto and now living here in Vancouver. Janet will be opening her studio this upcoming November 2012 for the eastside culture crawl open studios event at the ARC here at 1701 Powell Street, East Vancouver @ Commercial Drive November 16, 17, & 18th, 2012.

Janet and I met when she became a neighbour (2011) living in the ARC (Artist Resource Centre). She’s been involved in many of the group events and exhibits. Over the year, we’ve bonded and become good friends. She is a fairly new arrival to the Vancouver art scene, having lived and worked as an artist in Toronto for many years.

Janet, please tell us tell us about your work.

I’m a Fine Art Photographer. My digital and analog images are of landscapes, scenic views, architectural, botanical, still life and sometimes abstracts. I’ve traveled in France, Mexico, New York City and all over Canada and the U.S.A. – so lots of original and unusual views of interesting places.

My larger prints are always on archival, fine quality papers. I do sell a variety of smaller prints and photo greeting cards as well. I will also shoot commissioned works – for example: Your lovely garden, in it’s best season; A portrait of your home or vacation property.

Currently, I’m working on a few photo series themes: 

1) “Doorways of Commercial Drive”  

2)“Rain Where” – abstracts, showing views of Vancouver and some other places through the filter of a rain-soaked windshield. 

 

3) Rainforests and Sea Views from BC and Washington State.

Would you share with us some thoughts about your creative process?

I’m a fairly spontaneous and impulsive photographer. I love traveling to and exploring new places to create images that offer a memorable and transportive moment for viewers.

It’s uncanny how I’ll often go in search of unique locations and find that invariably “The shots find me”!

So, the lesson I’ve learned is about how to be fully “open” to all my intuitive senses when I’m shooting in the field.

Can you tell us, how did your passion for this art form began?

I’ve always been a Visual Artist, having worked in every media (from sculpture to video).

My passion for photography came early – my engineer father was a gifted self-taught photographer, who encouraged me in my artistic practice.

For many years I was an Arts Educator (specializing in photography) and through the years of teaching, I always maintained my profile as an exhibiting artist and photographer.

I still teach photography and/or visual art to small classes, in my East Van. studio and in

other education venues.

How do you make time for your art  when it's never urgent nor a priority to take time for your creativity? Where does the dispipline come from to practice. Do you have a ritual? How do you get motivated?

Because I’m a photographer…. “my artistic vision is always with me.” Meaning that, I never “turn it off.” As long as my eyes are open – I’m seeing potential shots. It’s both a blessing and a huge distraction. I could be walking to a dentist appointment, spot a great local garden and loose myself to the moment with any small camera that fits into my bag… then have to make a lame excuse to the dental receptionist about loosing my house keys and having to find them…

I could not live any other way. I’m a confirmed and committed daydreamer! Watching fabulous clouds drift above me is my idea of tuning into all my inner senses and creative energies.

My secret to happiness – is to live fully in the moment and always be prepared to give yourself up to visual beauty… wherever and whenever you find it.

What's your favorite all time favorite art piece?

There is a painting by Rosseau (in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC) – “The Sleeping Gypsy”… I played hookey from high school many Fridays and went straight to  MOMA for the day, just to be able to sit and look for an hour at that image, mesmerized… then look at all the art (Henri Matisse was a favorite) and especially MOMA’S fabulous photo collection. I’d wrap up the day by viewing one of their vintage films from the cinema archives too. What better Fine Art education could I have had?

What are you working on currently?

I’m thinking about showing some of my photos as ART INSTALLATION pieces. That will involve some sculptural presentation that incorporates my photos. Can’t explain why… but the word “miniatures” keeps tempting me. We’ll see where this leads….  My ideas are still “percolating”.

For you, what is the best thing about being and artist?

It’s all about the freedom to think boldly and creatively, to get completely “obsessed” with an original idea and “run with it”.

It’s also about the community of other artists that you affiliate with.

The feeling of isolation that many associate with being an artist, is something very foreign to me. I’m a social person and I often work in creative collaboration with other artists.

For you, What 's the most challenging thing about being an artist?

Of course, one is always challenged to balance creative life and regular every-day existence.

Basic survival issues put the “wolf” squarely at the door.

There is no easy path to becoming an artist.

It’s a life-style choice and a hard one. It takes a special kind of commitment…

How would you define success  for yourself as an artist? What are some successes you have enjoyed thus far on your journey, and what has been a key factor in you achieving your success?

Success is simply a matter of waking up each morning, knowing that I’m able to stay on my path to show and share my art with others. The joy is in reflecting on all the good moments that have accumulated to confirm my commitment – there were many, but most of all, I can say that the many artistic talents I have encouraged were the best reward!

Deb, this idea of success is purely relative to one’s inner nature… To be honest, being adaptable to situations/opportunities and to see “outside of the box” have been features of my “success”.

What 3 pieces of advice would you give to other artists ?

For Photographers especially:

1)       Concentrate on COMPOSITION, CONTRAST and COMMUNICATION in every shot.

2)      Allow yourself to PLAY  - in any way you wish to define it. It’s important to preserve your sense of play and connect with the child in you.

3)      Never, ever let NEGATIVE CRITICISM affect you. Of course,CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM is useful and you can always take it or leave it. DO STAY TRUE TO YOUR CREATIVE PATH.

I am, as you know, a big believer in self care - especially for artists! What do you do to nourish yourself and soul… to re-charge your batteries so to speak?

Probably preserve my right to daydream… and look at the world with wonder.

A little yoga in the morning keeps me focused.  Hiking and walking into great landscapes

are always restorative.

I read and write quite a bit too. Certainly, looking at the works of other artists fills me with inspiration.

What recent or upcoming shows/and or gallery representation can we look out for or go and see of your work?

The East Side Culture Crawl – this November 16, 17 + 18.

Please take a moment to share with us your experience living in a work/live studio.

Being privileged to live in the ARC (work/live studio) has been the best choice I ever could have made when moving from Toronto in 2011 to Vancouver. It immediately immersed me into an artistic environment – where sharing and collaboration are an everyday experience. 

The friendships and social times are always a great crucible for more learning, planning or just great networking. 

How amazing is that!!?

What can we look forward to this upcoming November at the Culture Crawl. Please share your studio number and any special demos/events you'll be offering.

STUDIO #508

I will be showing photographic art works, photo-based artworks and perhaps some installation art.

There will be demonstrations and some hands-on activities in doing Hand Tinting of Black and White Photos.

Be sure to sign my guest list and also sign up for my WINTER WORKSHOP SERIES.

YOU CAN REACH Janet AT:  sadelj@gmail.com

Janet, I just loved your answers! Thankyou so much for sharing this with us here! Deb xoxoox

Corporate Painting Party

This blog is for the brilliant, fun and enthusiastic employees at NewCorp in Burnaby, BC where I had the honor to join them for a staff painting party and facilitate some acrylic painting! My intention was for them to have fun and get a bit messy. What can I say I'm a fan of  splattering paint around! Mission was definitly accomplished!

I figured they could 'pull' any photos off of themselves that they liked and that it would be a great memory to come back to. I mean, have you ever heard of a corporation letting their employees take time off, buying them a bunch of canvases and cool acrylic paint colours, and letting them get creative for a few hours with pizza and tunes for a few hours? Man, this company seems very progressive. thanks so much for having me - special thanks for Traci for organizing.

Starting out with clean white canvases, things changed pretty quickly.

Looking down on the beginnings of a few masterpieces!

The group started off by each choosing one colour and adding some white (tinting) and some black (sahding) to their colour to create different hues, do some mixing, and begin to get into their painting groove.

All different paintings began to emerge quite quickly!

I was surprised by how much many of the men got super into the painting! It was awesome to witness. :-)

Keep noticing that little landscape painting!

Watch for this landscape painting in further pictures. I swear thsi guy must have watched a ton of Bob Ross Videos! He had finished a beautiful landscape piece by the end of our session!

Keep noticing the little landscape painting in the corner.

Happy colours painting!

What great memories. Beautiful people in their creative groove!

Our fabulous man in black, Darren!

Mr. "School of hard knocks" dripping his painting over the garbage can!!!

Every one worked on 1-2 little 10 x 10" canvases.

Scroll down to see these flowers evolve later. The Artist did a beautiful job!

Garbage bags made excellent painting aprons!

My goal is achieved, things are getting messy now!!!

Couldn't resist taking a photo of this gentleman painting at his desk next to his keyboard and computer!

First set of paintings were put under the table to dry as they started their second canvas.

A Jackson Pollock drip painting emerged!

This was my favourite part of the afternoon.. the group began working on a joint/group painting! Scroll down and see the progression of the painting!

The group painting kept evolving! It was the star of the painting show. So much fun watching everyone get so involved!

Thank you so much for having me out for the afternoon NewCorp Burnaby!!!

Breathing Space: Galiano Island, British Columbia

Every summer my daugther Ruthie, now 9, and I go camping together. I've been making a point to go somwhere new each year so she can begin to see and explore the natural beauty we have around us here in beautiful British Columbia. 

This year for a week in July we chose to camp on Galiano Island in the Gulf Islands of British Columbia where the forest meets the ocean and a small piece of heaven exists. It's a 45 minute ferry ride from Vancouver straight to the island.

Lots of little beaches we found to play and look for marine life especially when the tide was down.

Oh Deer! On a group hike with Ruthie and another camping family we came across this beautifully  made drift wood deer. It's life size and made completely out of found wood on the beach!

The dock near the campground was one of the best places to look for fish, sea stars, sea urchins and all sorts of marine life. They even had a floating nature house with free events for kids on the weekends.

Ruthie outside the Galiano Soap Works Store where we found lots of treasure including nice smelling candles, body oils and -of course- beautiful hand made soaps!

The patio outside the Soapworks store. Just love patios with flowers.

Inside the main 'Market' the one store where you could get groceries on the island. It was so beautifully set up like an art gallery for fruits and vegetables. a joy to peruse.

Ruthie snuggled into the sandstone scupltures at Bell Park on the tip of the Island. So much fun climbing the rocks on the sea shore!

Our home for the week. Camp Deb & Ruthie. Snuggled in the trees with our campfire, clothelines, and tarp kitchen. Don't need much else.

Oddly enough this picture looks like a painting or as though it's been photshopped in some way. Truth is, I don't know how to use photoshop and it has not been altered at all. It was a really brilliant sunset that night and Ruthie and I were on our way to go enjoy it with some friends a Shell Beach - best place on Galiano Island to watch the sun set if you ask me. Anyways, we snapped this picture on our walk there and it had this etheral painterly feel at the time.

Tide up at Shell Beach. So many great memories of sun sets and wading around in the water. Looks tropical with the turquoise water!

Ruthie wading in the cool ocean water with her new little friend in the background.

Walking the peninsula near Montague Harbor campground on my birthday ( July 8th). This has, for the last many years, been my desired way to celebrate my birthday : on a hike in nature. Ruthie was off on a playdate with some new campground friends and I took an hour to just enjoy the trees, the path, the ocean and my own company.

Always have loved the sandstone strata geology in the Gulf Islands.

Creative How-To: Making the appearance of footprints in sand

 I recently received this question via Email and thought I'd share it with not just this artist, but anyone who may have the same query....

Here's the question :

"I happened to chat with an Opus friend of yours in the downtown store yesterday.  I only found this out when I mentioned how much I enjoyed your demos and wish I had remembered more from them. hehehehehe  I had called their store for information on what product to use on an acrylic painting to make it look like a sand/gravel texture.  Like at the beach!  And how to also make a raised effect.  She suggested I send you a quick email for your opinion.  I would like the overall painting to have a random sand texture and want to end up adding a raised design in it that would give the impression of a print (foot?) within the sand.  Hope that makes sense.  I am feeling that the print should be raised and I am not sure what to do to accomplish that."


Dear Adrien,

Thanks for writing.

There are two products I can think of off hand that would work for this project. 

The first is GOLDEN coarse pumice gel. This has already got a sandy texture and is thick so give you raised effects. You could then imprint or sculpt the effect of footprints into it. AFterwards you could give it some washes or paint over it to get the sandy colour your desire.

This is GOLDEN pumice gel all dry. See that you can shape it and then if you want to create a sandy effecd yoiu could wash over it with sandy colours such as trasnparent yellow iron oxide , titan buff, etc.

HEre's a video which will shed some light on the pumice gel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM-bkNOLPfU

Also, for your reference, here is a blog I wrote a while back on putting sand, salt, sugar and other things into your mixed media paintings:  
http://debchaney.blogspot.ca/2010/04/adding-interesting-things-into-your.htmlour.html

The other option would be to use Light Modeling paste ( GOLDEN and Liquitex make it) and either mix sand in it and then make and shape it into your desired foot print look or sprinkle sand on it afterwards. This is one of my favourite products as it holds shape better than any other gel or medium that I've worked with.

Also, if you are going to collect sand from the beach, be sure to clean it and cook it in the oven to get all the little bacteriesa and other dirt and nasties from it. I'm pretty sure, if you don't feel like going through all that effort, you can go to the hardware store and buy pre-sterlized sand!

Light modeling paste holds textures, imprints and formations really well. GOLDEN and Liquitex make these products and they are comparable. Look for the best deal!

Good luck with your project and I hope this helps.

Creative How To - Starting a Creative Project

This blog is dedicated to Gabriella, who has a book inside her ready to be born. It’s about how to start a creative project – any project you choose - and creating a rhythm to keep it going and make some legitimate progress on the creative project.

I’m going to build this blog by offering you a few key cards from my creative card pack The 68 Secrets of an Illuminated Artist that are integral in supporting Gabriella in the beginning of her journey of starting to write a book, and hopefully you, in any project you want to start.

BEGIN. There must be a few good reasons why you want to *write this book. Start by writing these reasons out. Why do you want to do project x anyways? Put pen to paper and get clear on this. This is your purpose. The WHY. The reason you are even considering doing this project.

Then, I want you to take it to the next step and write out why you are excited or juiced about this project. I call this my E-list. In the case of this list, just make it relevant to this project.

*write this book = do this project, whatever creative project you are embarking on…

KEEP IT TO YOURSELF.  Before you go any further in getting started with your creative project I want to share this next concept with you here, as it’s very important. Did you know that talking about this project or telling your friends about it creates the same reactions in your brain as actually doing it? Therefore when you tell someone about it – instead of actually doing it – your brain doesn’t know the difference and you are less likely to do it. Read the card and follow this advice until you have so much momentum with your creative project that it will no longer matter if you talk about it because you have become an illuminated artist: creatively unstoppable. Until then button your lips.

 

SCHEDULE TIME. Next, you know this inherently. If you don’t make – and more powerfully -  schedule time to work  this project, it won’t happen. So if you really want to succeed long term, it’s been proven again and again that small steps are the best way to create lasting long term chance. Choose a time each day when you can do 10 minutes on this project. If that brings up anxiety or other less than desirable feelings, lower the number. Start with 5 minutes or event 1 minute. Just make sure you do this every day.

 

MAKE IT FUN.  As you start doing your daily 10 minutes you want to incorporate ways to make it fun – then you’ll be more likely to keep at it.  Light a candle. Play music. Have cookies waiting next to your pen and paper/tools/computer/work session.  When I was working on my first book The Little Inspiration Book   I used to put hot water and Epsom salts and lavender aromatherapy into a large bowl and soak my feet while I wrote.  Maybe what’ll make it fun for you is working in different locations like a coffee shop or at the beach. Have a little list available with a few ideas so they are ready to support you.







CELEBRATE YOUR PROGRESS. Bottom line is if you are working on a project on your own, and especially if you've followed the first guideline to keep it to yourself, there will be no cheering squad waiting  on the other side of hte door once you've written the first page, or first chapter, or for establishing your writing/working schedule. In this case I ask you be your own cheering squad. Time some time and do something to celebrate your forward progress. Anchor it in yourself that you're doing great and that you can keep going. Pat yourself on the back. say YES!! outloud real loud. Take yourself out for dinner. Get a mani pedi. Whatever it is that works for you. But, please, do something. If you want to create some accountability, sign it to blogger and post your celebratory act here in the Comments section. I'm sure other readers would be pleased to get ideas from you.

Need more support? These are only a few cards from the 68 card pack  The 68 Secrets of an Illuminated Artist you can order the whole pack (all 68 cards) for $25 plus shipping/handling from me info@debchaney.com. 

Meet the Yoga Girls.. new paintings!

The Original Yoga Girl acrylics & mixed media on panel (c) Deb Chaney 2012 SOLD

This week I thought I'd share my latest little painting series; "Yoga Girl" that all got started while teaching a and demonstrating techiques using thick acrylics and mixed medias at my last Thick, Layered & Encaustic-like Abstract Paintings: How to Build Transparent, Translucent and Opaque layers with Acrylic Mediums

workshop.

I've been placing these artwork images on facebook over the last few months but I thought it would be nice to showcase them all in one place, here also on my blog. They are also on my website in the Portfolio section entitled Yoga Girl Series: http://www.debchaney.com/debchaney/Art_Portfolio/Pages/Yoga_Girl.html.  

So, a bit behind this series and what it means to me... 

After dreaming of it for 10 years I finally signed up and committed to an eight month yoga instructor course. It's with Rizze Yoga Studio here in East Vancouver and led by Lana Marie. Lana teaches quite a number of classes at Open Door Yoga and if you are in the neighbourhood, I highly suggest you experience one of her classes. They are truly the embodiment of somatic style yoga.

Tree Pose Yoga Girl Series 16  x 20" Acrylics & mixed media on panel (c) Deb Chaney 2012 Original Available So far this yoga teacher training has been quite a roller coaster and inward journey. Often, when you get into your body somatically a lot of emotions and old stored memories re-surface. It can be quite unfortable and/or even painful to start to feel things we've pushed away for so long so that we did not have to feel them.  On the upside, the thing about getting moving and sweaty through yoga is that in this process we get the  opportuniy to then process and release a lot of this old stuff and so de-toxificaiton and transformation can occur. Processing emotions is definitly the more challenging part of the journey. However, afterwards you get all the benefits of yoga - which could be a whole blog, if not a book, in itself. To name a few; you feel more joyful, happier, lighter, more flexible, fitter, sleep better, breathe easier, stand up taller, and look better.

Dancer, Yoga Girl Series 16  x 20" Acrylics & mixed media on panel (c) Deb Chaney 2012 SOLD

The fun part and wonderful benefit of this training is connecting with the other beautiful and amazing participants during our intensive weekend sessions. At some point I need to get some pictures of us and some fun and crazy things we've been doing as a group!

Namaste, Yoga Girl Series 16  x 20" Acrylics & mixed media on panel (c) Deb Chaney 2012 Original Available

 So, to be truly honest, this series of paintings shown here were all created before the yoga teacher training class began. Painting these pieces was my way of  dedicating and getting into to my yoga practice beacause truthfully at the very start of all this ( four months ago now) it was so much easier for me to paint then to make it to a yoga class. So I painted instead of doing yoga. 

Reverse Warrior, Yoga Girl Series 16  x 20" Acrylics & mixed media on panel (c) Deb Chaney 2012 Original Available

There will be more paintings I'm sure, as there are 6 more in my studio still waiting to be completed. But things have shifted for me and now that I am actually  doing yoga more frequently and embodying the practice much more than at the start, it'll also be interesting to see how the work evolves! Perhaps when the next handful of paintings are completed I'll do another follow up post like this and  we'll see if we can spot any differences!

Dancer in the Snow, Yoga Girl Series 16  x 20" Acrylics & mixed media on panel (c) Deb Chaney 2012 Original Available

It's funny how people around us see things about us that we don't see because we're in ourselves busy living our lives doing our thing and can't see our own blindspots. This is natural and why it's great to have a few people around that we trust that can point out things we may not have seen. My friend Jeanne Krabbendam, was visiting for tea a few months ago and we were talking about this series of paintings and she commented on there was a separation between the abstract painting and the yoga girls themselves. I realized that at this point in time, my painting and my yoga were two different separate entities. 

My hope and dream with yoga and abstract painting are slowly but surely brought together, unified synergistically within me so I can share these two practices with you in the Illuminate the Artist Within(TM) retreats that are now being offered internationally. 

By the way, if you fall in love with one or more of these Yoga Girl Paintings and aren't able to purchase an original, they are all available as small gift cards ( blank inside), small prints, posters and fridge magnets at  http://www.cafepress.com/yogagirlpaintings. To purchase an original you can contact me at info@debchaney.com or come to my next Open Studio Event during the East End Culture Crawl this November 16, 17 & 18th 2012 at the ARC Live/Work STudios 1701 Powell Street, East Vancouver, BC. If you'd like a reminder for this event, pls subscribe to my free monthly newsletter. 

Namaste, Deb

One legged Stretch, Yoga Girl Series 16  x 20" Acrylics & mixed media on panel (c) Deb Chaney 2012 Original Available

Breathing Space: Deep Cove

In early June this year it was still raining and cold here in Vancouver but I decided to get out of hte studio and be a tourist in my own town and head over to Deep Cove.

 If any of the scenery looks familiar you may note that this is where Charlie St. Cloud ( a fairly newly released movie) with Zach Efron was filmed when he was sailing in the start of the movie.

 It's very quiet and quaint and sleepy. And I had a nice relaxing walk around the cove.

Foxglove upclose.

In the park at the front and center of the harbor.

Motorbors all lined up (with no place to go?) :)

 I'm always a sucker for a waterfall.

and a forest path...

Always make time to smell the roses. Seriously you gotta do it! 

 I threw a few pennies in the wishing pool and since it came true I'm going to tell you my wish!

 It was for sunshine!!!

 Finished up my walk wtih a cup of tea at the local bakery.

The Audacity of Self Love

This month I'm excited to share with you a new book that has just emerged entitled 'The Audacity of Self Love - Voyage of the Self Made Woman".  To anyone that's ever taken one of my workshops or read The Little Inspiration Book or the seen the newly published card pack the 68 Secrets of an Illuminated Artist, they will know how dear this topic - loving oneself - is to my heart is and how important it is for all people, and artists in particular, to specialize in self love and self care. 

When I saw Christina Fior's Post on my Facebook newsfeed, I emailed her immediately and  shared that I would love to mention her book her on this blog and  how much it meant to be that she wrote it on this topic.

Without further ado,  this book is about the  guts it takes to be a Self-Made Woman. It takes audacity to bring our feminine genius forward in a world that has been set up for us to be ‘long suffering’ rather than self empowered.

 

The Audacity of Self Love --Voyage of the Self Made Woman speaks to the universal woman’s ‘heroic journey’ as she cuts through the layers of ‘love deprivation’ and deepens her sources of Self-Love.

 

This book provide a roadmap for unleashing our feminine genius and recapturing the original brilliance encoded within our souls. This time in history calls us to become feminine ‘change agents’ as we champion a bigger ‘idea’ for our lives, and co-create a new world of enlightened living.

 

It’s time to literally ‘liberate the genie from the bottle’ within us, and grant our deepest desires.

You can also read the introduction and first chapter online here:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Audacity-Self-Love-ebook/dp/B008F0WQUO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1340848745&sr=1-1&keywords=audacity+self+love 

Christina Fior has accompanied her innate intuitive abilities with 35 years of practice in metaphysics, quantum healing and the integrative health sciences. She has counseled hundreds of women, blending her skills as a Wellness Coach, Esthetician, Theta Healer, Holodynamics Practitioner, and a Palm and Handwriting Analyst. Through the insightful and compassionate nature of her work, she is affectionately known by her clients as The Love Whisperer.

Christina Fior

New Music I'm playing in my Studio

There is nothing like having great tunes to play in the studio while working. Music gives me energy, inspires me, and often makes sometimes a difficult process way more fun.

Here's 5 new musician/bands/artists I'm playing lately that are new -for me anyways!:

John Mayer. Oh wow, he is just so unbelievably amazing.  I first heard of John Mayer through Taylor Swift's song "dear john". Yeah, I understand she got burned after they split up. Well, i couldn't help but be curious about this musician she was with and after listening to his Battle Studies album and then Continuum, well, I"m so hooked on this sexy voiced guitarist. Fav song? Hmmmm, I Love ' Stop this Train', 'Gravity' and 'Perfectly Lonely'.

Here's John playing Gravity at the Grammy's. Oh man! I am eating my heart out!   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owFFVQYW1p8

Paramore. I found this group via Twilight soundtrack. Yup, I'm a super big Twighlight fan. Just love the movies, especially the most recent when Bella has a baby and become a vampire ( oh dear hope i didn't spoil it for you but it's been out for a while). The first song of theirs I fell in love with was 'i caught myself'. Then I went out and got these albums: Brand New Eyes and Riot! I'm still listening and exploring them so I can't say I have a favourite song but they have my attention.

Here's a Paramore song on youtube to give you a feel of them called 'that's what you get' http://youtu.be/1kz6hNDlEEg

Paul Cantelon. My daughter (she just turned 9) was teasing me the other day about the number of boyfriends I have had over the last couple of years. It's true. I've dated a lot of men. The one benefit is when you get to know someone new you often get to learn new music. I love this part about making new friends or having new relationships. So, yes, one of my ex's (too many to count at this point in time) told me about this pianist/composer Paul Catelon. You'll hear his melodic and somewhat sad piano music in the background of tons of movies. I went to a yoga class the other day and noticed the teacher was playing it. I smiled smugly to myself and thought to myself 'hey, i know this music!!". it's the kind of music you put on when it's pouring rain outside and you're working on a book or  a painting, or if you should be so lucky, doing other things with someone special. It's basically relaxing background music with emotion. I have his Point no Point album.

Here's a piece of his music called 'Theme From The Diving Bell And The Butterfly' http://youtu.be/8kLBAWutvdw

Buddha Bar.  Super cool mix. I think there are more than 6 CD's under this title with a whole lot of artists and various genres. I first heard of buddha bar from my ex-husband Matt. He was working in Los Vegas for several of the major hotels in  the MGM group as a consultant he was at a restaurant bar one evening and really liked the music they were playing. He asked the bar tender and what 'd you know, it was Buddha Bar.

There are tons of Buddha Bar CD's available. Ahh the beauty of living in an artist work/live community. We share music amoung other things, so lucky  me I have 6 of these records!

Honestly I don't think I've listened to it all yet but it also makes a great background to put on if you're having a party or a social event! ( Open studio perhaps? :)) 

To get a quick taste of this music just click on their main website and they play the music:

http://www.buddhabar.com/

Chilled. I found this album by accident at the library and got hooked. I kept re-newing it again and again until the library system woudn't let me have it anymore!It it just such a cool album. Up beat and fun and music I had not heard before. I'm seriously considering putting some of these songs into my yoga classes!

My Fav song from this album?  Fun for Me by Moloko You gotta listen to it!!!! Here's the link on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWYRatfj1o8&feature=related

I would say of the 5 albums/artsits I've listed in this blog, this collection of 3 CD's is my fav!!!!

Now it's your turn....

If you read this and enjoy it, pls do share what you're playing in your studio an share with with other artists all over the world! It's so fun to learn about new music! Thank you!!! ( links to youtube are great so we can listen to it)

Artist Interview with Marta Baricsa

Marta with Om natural green.

This blog starts out with a long overdue thank you to large scale painter and ARC artists in residence Marta Baricsa who very kindly had my most recent Body of Work six week workshop class into her home and studio to tell us a little bit about her process and share with us several of her bodies of work. Marta, Thank you so much for having us all over! 

 Marta with my workshop students, showing them her portfolio

My first burning question is about the title under you bio of "Founder of Directivism in art" I've never heard of directivism and would love to know what this is and how you came to found it and other artists that follow this... 

After painting for many years I came to notice that my works and the way I was doing my works were different than much of what I had seen and had been taught about in school. 

While all forms of creation are great I realized what some of the key differences for me were when painting. 

I knew that and was taught to cover my mistakes but I never did very well at hiding them. I also realized I wasn't making any "mistakes"... i.e I wasn't correcting anything in my work. And I wasn't building a surface and removing it to discover what I had put down previously mixed with what was fresh. And I wasn't building layer upon layer upon layer and covering up previous areas.

 Like I said not that there is anything wrong with that. Because there are lots of incredible artists doing paintings just that like that....but I just noticed my way was very different. I became outrageously confident in the marks I make and let what is there be there. It is like I am just allowing what is meant to be flow through me and how dare I be the judge of it?! 

So, I welcome the energy that is to be and I surrender myself to it. Basically if you x-rayed my paintings you would see what is there....is only what has been there. 

Plus Directivism is also about a visual clarity. It is direct and to the point without being controlled. It is a point where I am conscious but have left the controlling logical mind behind. Those little voices saying...."change this"  or "that doesn't look right"  don't exist for me anymore. That is Directivism. While there aren't other artists I know of following this way of working....I can identify Directivist works. For example my partner Roy Mackey made a steel man called "naked man" which he literally built out of air. There is no armature, no building upon, removing....and his works have a real focus to them- so I would have to say he also is a Directivist for the most part.

"I consider myself a Directivist and I paint with deliberate intent.

The works are direct fluid movement that stem immediately from a source.

They can be linear or sculptural - concrete or random in composition.

I use minimal brushwork and the purist clean, clear paint.

Done with no corrections and only over painting where it is intended.

Because it is exact as it is meant to be."

"I am the founder of Directivism in art."

Marta Baricsa

Carbon line. 2006. Ink on primed canvas. 12 x 24"  

Going back a bit here, can you please tell us how did you passion for painting began?

My earliest memory is from kindergarten....having my hands in the paint and the exhilarated feeling of joy I felt - I knew from that moment what I was going to do in life is paint. As a teenager I attended Central Technical Schools art program and then later went to OCAD where I graduated from the department of experimental arts.

 

Have you ever had other jobs or passions or have you been a painter since graduating high school until now?

Yes, I have had other jobs some I was even passionate about! ...mainly relating to energy & movement based work. I taught, trained people in fitness, aquatics, stretching and swimming etc. I also was a Certified Fitness Consultant and performed fitness tests and made training programs for individuals. I also ran my own CPR & first aid business in Toronto & Vancouver. I trained - retrained and certified doctors, dentists and fitness professionals in CPR. While I enjoyed much of this I always felt painting was my main passion.

What's your favourite all time favourite art piece of yours and why? 

That is quite difficult for me to say....I have many favourites.  But I will include "Apollo" which I dedicated to my Mom.

               

Marta with Apollo

What's your favourite all time favourite art piece of another artist and why?

 

That is a hard one Deb. While I love many works of art I would have to say my partner Roy Mackey's "Flame Chair" stands out. Roy is an extraordinary artist and human being. His work is so new and creative. See www.flamingsteel.com for more on his work.

Can you please tell us the body of work you are currently working on and what inspired this series?

I am working on my Om paintings. They are focus meditation paintings. They are about clarity, focus of thought and being present. With many things that pull our attention these days it is my desire that these paintings help bring people back to a sense of awe and Om.

Here is a section I clipped from Wikipedia on Om which I find helps describe these works:

"Hindus believe that as creation began, the divine, all-encompassing consciousness took the form of the first and original vibration manifesting as sound "OM" before creation began it was "Shunyākāsha", the emptiness or the void. Shunyākāsha, meaning literally "no sky", is more than nothingness, because everything then existed in a latent state of potentiality. The vibration of "OM" symbolizes the manifestation of God in form ("sāguna brahman"). "OM" is the reflection of the absolute reality, it is said to be "Adi Anadi", without beginning or the end and embracing all that exists The mantra "OM" is the name of God, the vibration of the Supreme. When taken letter by letter, A-U-M represents the divine energy."

with Om new light.                                                                       

For you, what the best thing about being a painter?

Loving what I do. The freedom.... so many new ideas to explore....the paint itself,  the colours, the confidence I have when I have a paint brush in my hands. The excitement and the magic of the paint becoming what it is meant to be....and my hand in helping it become that. It is great feeling. 

For you, what 's the most challenging thing about being a a painter?

Wanting to have more steady income. Believing more in myself.....while I believe fully in the art and my process....I would like to feel the same about myself.

How would you define success for yourself as an artist? What are some success you have achieved thus far on your journey, and what has been a key factor in you achieving your success?

Wow! Well, the success of making the work very passionately is really key for me otherwise I think I would have to say I am a complete failure in all the other normal factors of a successful "career". Having a loving and supportive partner that helps and a caring family. Also hearing back from museum curators and gallery dealers mainly in the US that are all very positive and encouraging helps me stay on track. Selling paintings to clients is important too. Plus I am very fortunate to have had so much exposure in the movies and TV shows. 

Another success and actually quite a challenge was painting "Aequilibrium" a  27 x 20 foot tetraptych. Which I made just because I had a vision of it in my mind. My good friend, Rachel Berman, who is an incredible artist had just given me a huge bolt of canvas as a gift. And I knew I wanted to make something memorable with it.

Talking about success I noticed that you have many of your paintings in movies. I am curious how was your work found to be placed in these movies?

That is a bit of a long story...but basically my first rental was around 11 years ago a set decorator bought some small works of mine she saw at a store.  That was the movie "Life or something like it" with Angelina Jolie.

Then "Catwoman" with Halle Berry was going to being shot here in Vancouver. The production crews were going around the buildings with artists in them and they came upon the ARC building and put up a posting. They came in our studio and saw my works. They rented one painting and were looking for another painting to cover over a mirror and had asked me if I had something that would work. I went down to the set to have a look and then painted something specific for the movie. Later they were looking for many large paintings for the scene in Sharon Stone's mansion. I think they rented around 7-8 large paintings of mine for this movie. Carol, the set decorator really gave me a great opportunity. Not only did I get great exposure in the film....they also paid me very well. 

Then I heard from my neighbours who worked in the movie industry about the BC film commission list. So I began mailing off packages to the productions. Since then I have been in nearly 20 movie /TV productions. Most recently my paintings are in "This Means War" with Reese Witherspoon and also in "50/50" with Seth Rogen....where he actually says a few words about my paintings.

What recent or upcoming shows/and or gallery representation can readers look out for or go and see of your work?

Some of my paintings can be seen in the Art Rental and Sales program at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Or come to one of our open studios which I post on my website and of course private studio visits can also be booked also.

Marta, Thank you for taking the time to partake in this interview!

Thanks for the interview Deb!

Fundamentals of Facilitation

This week I’m excited and proud to present to you an amazing woman, Leslie Robinson, who will be visiting us here in Vancouver from Calgary this August  to offer her foundation workshop: Fundamental of Facilitation.

Leslie is a fun, popular, and highly effective international facilitator who trains trainers with solid, instantly applicable training frameworks, skills, and techniques…and powers them up using energy principles like the power of intention and the law of attraction.  Leslie pioneered experiential learning in Canada, the US, and Australia through her tourism training programs and publishing company and was a member of the team creating the award winning Certificate in Adult and Continuing Education at the University of Victoria.  

Leslie also taught for years in the renowned Provincial Instructor Diploma Program and is a facilitator and trainer in the internationally acclaimed Instructional Skills Workshop.  Leslie's Masters degree in Adult Education is in resistance (to learning), change, quantum physics, and accelerating learning. She combines her extensive knowledge and skill in applied metaphysics.  Her classes are filled with laughter, music, magic.

FUNDAMENTALS OF FACILITATION 3 DAY WORKSHOP

This is a one time workshop offering for the leaders in my community looking to facilitate a group, run their own workshops or learn how to manage a group or team better.

FUNDAMENTALS OF FACILITATION 3 DAY WORKSHOP

This August 2012 I will be hosting Leslie Robinson, MA Adult Ed

This is a leadership course for entry level trainers and advanced trainers seeking foundational frameworks and to fill their training tool kit with tips and tricks and for those seeking a refreshing new approach to using training as a catalyst for positive change and transformation within themselves and their organizations.  This course may be taken as a stand alone, or as a prerequisite for her Advanced Facilitation Certificate Program  http://www.leslierobinson.ca/workshops/advanced-facilitation-certificate-program/

Who would benefit from this workshop and WHY?  Team leaders from every walk in life: teachers, corporate trainers, nurses, realtors, welders, bakers, artists, spiritual leaders, healers, musicians, parents.  You will walk away with practical skills to increase productivity and efficiency, save time, reduce costs, while empowering learners to bring positive change to their lives and organizations

This course  lays the practical foundation of your facilitation, leadership, and training  practice. Offered in a highly effective and safe framework, you will be able to create a safe and nurturing learning environment, establish clear, strong, powerful goals, design lesson plans, deliver effective facilitations, provide exceptionally constructive feedback, reflect critically on our own learning as a facilitator of learning (!), and create an action plan to integrate these techniques into your daily practice.

 

DATES/TIMES: Monday August 6th - Wednesday August 8th. 3 days. 9-5 PM  

COST: $  597 plus tax

LOCATION: The ARC live/work Studios 1701 Powell Street, Vancouver, BC

REGISTRATION: info@debchaney.com/ 604-736-5111

Learn more About Leslie Robinson ---- http://www.leslierobinson.ca/about-leslie/

and/or E-mail leslie@leslierobinson.ca or call 403-863-1164 to start the conversation

Read about other  courses and programs she offers.... http://www.leslierobinson.ca/workshops/

5 Contemporary MOMA Artists to Check Out

Here are 5 (five) contemporary  artists whose work really captured me when I visited the MOMA in NY last March .

Francis Picabia 

I love this piece in particular and it made want to go home to my studio and do paintings with words all over them!

Christopher Wool

His work was definetly my favourtie and I literally sat down next to his huge abstract paintings and just hung out and enjoyed them during my MOMA visit. Last year sometime I did for fun that are basicallly white gesso and charcoal. It's such a great way to warm up. This reminds me of them.

Kurt Schswitters

I was particularly drawn to this piece as for the absolute freedom of creating with collage that it inspires me in. 

Rirkrit Tiravanija

I was not allowed to photograph Rirkrit's installation, but I want to tell you a little bit about it and say that I spent quote a lot of time with his work. In the foreground of the installation were camping pots and mementos such as maps of his camping trips and travels in Argentina. In the background on the wall was a very long aseembled painting with stamps, images from his passports, writings, paint, again all in reference to his travels. It was so beautiful! I wish I could have photographed the exhibit!

Franz West

To be honest I can't remember why I made a note of this artist when I was at the MOMA as at this current time in my career I have not been that drawn to sculpture/installation artists. However the above poster is pretty cool and most likely there was something I saw at the museum that made me write down his name! I guess you'll have to go visit the MOMA, find his display and see what captured me! :)

Artist's Date: the NY MOMA

When I was in New York in March I went to visit the Museum of Modern of Art (MOMA) to discover that after 4 PM admission was free on fridays if you just lined up with a few other hundred + people down the street and around the corner, wait your turn, and get a free ticket. Pretty cool. Actually looking back now I wish I'd taken a photo because the line up went all the way down the street and then around the corner and then some. And quite honeslty just waiting in line was a wonderful experience in itself!

So for my friday Artist's Date, I climbed the beautiful stairs of the MOMA and started at the top floor and worked my way down. 

I felt a deep emotional connection seeing an original Frieda Khalo painting in person, up close and personal. The movie about her and Diego I saw with Salma Heyak really touched me and fostered a love with their story and her art. 

It was super cool to see Paul Klee's original work as I remember a collage instructor mentionning at the time (when I was living in Santa Barbara, CA) that my work resembled his and that I should go check him out!

I loved seeing the huge Jackson Pollock Painting up close and noticing that

he may have poured some kind of glossy resin on the piece as well as just paint because there were noticeable clear shiny drips that you might not see in a photograph or reproduction.  

I loved seeing Pablo Picasso's work up close and original. And of course, A Mark Rothco. If they would have let me I would have sat on a bench, drank tea and sat by that painting all day!

I took a lot of photos but wasn't allowed to use a flash so a lot of the photos - even with some digital adjustment - did not turn out that well. And I have converted some into black and white to fix the ultra yellow problem too.

Going down the floors I came upon 5 modern painters and was inspired to find some new names of work I thought were super cool. I will share those with you next week here on my blog!

Breathing Space: Spanish Banks

A few snapshots from a blustery beach walk in early June this year at Spanish Banks near UBC. You wouldn't have known it was June it was smattering rain and so cold! Beautiful and refreshing though!

The tide was all the way out and I think there would have been skim boarder and more people trolling the beach if the weather had been better!

One of a few people on the beach that day.

My fav pic, love the flowers!