Inside the Studio this week

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Today I'm sharing some photos of me working on a painting I've been in process with lately. This is my way of inviting you into my studio and seeing behind that scenes in my creative painting process. Yup, I'm being vulnerable.

I'm still working on  this painting and had the opportunity to bring it into the most recent Layers & Process workshop I taught in April where I shared with the group what this painting is about. It's about finding the balance between connecting with people we love and setting boundaries with them. Something I am learning myself.

I had recently watched a really inspirational video of Brenee Brown being interviewed and sharing that some of the most empathetic, kind, and compassionate people in the world are REALLY great at setting boundaries.This really inspired me. I am continuing to explore this concept through my art making.

This painting is part of my Fragments of Life Series in which each painting in this series is a visual, textural, three-dimensional exploration of something going on in my life personal to me that I often use paint and collage to process.

All the photos posted here are by Ruthie Firefly, my beautiful 12-year-old girl. She did a great job and I am grateful to her for this.

Just Sold, Fragments of Life # 16

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FragmentsOfLife16_2014Just sold: Fragments of Life # 16. 23” x 30” Mixed Media on 300 pound cold press water colour paper. (c) Deb Chaney.  See more paintings in this Series: Fragments of Life Series. Prints Available Saatchi Online Gallery. Big thanks to Courtney Furlotte, Independent Design Professional in Vancouver BC for finding me and making the connection with the new art collectors. So excited to see pictures of the three framed images up in their home !

Just Sold, Fragments of Life # 27

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FragmentsOfLife27_DebChaneyJust sold: Fragments of Life # 27. 23” x 30” Mixed Meida on 300 pound cold press water colour paper. (c) Deb Chaney.  See more paintings in this Series: Fragments of Life Series. Prints Available Saatchi Online Gallery. Big thanks to Courtney Furlotte, Independent Design Professional in Vancouver BC for finding me and making the connection with the new art collectors. So excited to see pictures of the framed images up in their home !

Letter from a Young Art Collector

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ValeryWPainting.JPG Paintings in itself, the process, is always and has been for years now the biggest gift for me of being a professional artist. The second biggest gift, for me, is to feel appreciated and valued, especially by  my art collectors. Thank you for this letter today, Valery. I am so happy to include you now with my group of growing art collectors all over the world.

"I am so proud to hold and cherish this painting from Deb Chaney's collection. Upon first sight of this beautiful work, I felt a strong pull and urge to hang it up in my home. It was clear that this mantra and beautiful creative representation had been destined to enter my life as a wonderfully fun and powerful outreach; "I take action, and allow space for attraction." Much can be said and extracted from this very statement, and to me, it serves as a daily reminder that I am in the drivers seat, I am the one incarnate, and I accept this responsibility gifted to me- that moving forward asks of me to take responsibility for myself, on many levels. To do the best I can, release, and trust that the rest is meant to allow space for the universe to present me with what is in the highest divine order. I surrender, and trust as I dance with the universe whilst I accept responsibility for myself, taking action when and where it is needed so that Source can continue to pour blessings my way to be experienced as part of this magical life that I have so generously been blessed and gifted to live. Miracles and magic await! What a tantric dance. Thank you Deb, for this amazing work!" -Valéry Bruneau xx.

Valery is a gifted Reiki Energy Practitioner and soulful aesthetician currently living in Victoria, BC, you can connect with her at: https://shinesthetics.wordpress.com.

Featured painting in above picture with Valery 'I take action and allow space for attraction' 12 " x 12" x 1.5" Mixed Media on Canvas (c) Deb Chaney original sold. Other small paintings available in the Little Gems and Full Moon Frog Pond collections.

More fabulous workshop photos!

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Big thank you to Liz and Yolanta Radomski for taking these great picts of demos in action! What a wonderful workshop it was and I just love having these photos for the memories. The glazing demo especially, that was my fav !  And yes, if you look closely I do occasionally play guitar at these events, purely for fun, no guarantee on anything more than basic chords and a few Taylor Swift songs! See you next time! (You can keep updated on next workshop running by subscribing here: http://eepurl.com/iplKI)

April workshop photos

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The Layers & Process workshop this past weekend at Parker Studios was such a huge success! First off big thanks to Deborah Bakos for allowing us to take over ‘Ripe Studios’ to use them as our playground. Parker Studios, hands down, has been the most fabulous workshop venue to date. We are so grateful to use this  space, thank you! Secondly, big thank you for Mattius Suedeta for playing  beautiful instrumental background music on Saturday, it was enjoyed by all and we hope you will join us again! And I want to thank each of you that showed up and brought your questions, inspiration, and enthusiasm. What a truly delightful group!

One of the student had to say this about the workshop:

“ Deb, you are so powerful and positive. Each person feel special and safe around you. Through you passion, I am inspired.” - Elizabeth Radomsky

Silver Lining - Paintings up & framed

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Frag35_Install_DChaney

If you've been following my blog, you may remember the blank empty walls from the Natural Medicine Office ?  Well, the big news is, the paintings are up and beautifully framed in silver! You can see more paintings available in this series for purchase or rent from the Fragments of Life Series. Thank you so much Be Well Natural Medicine in Mill Valley, California for choosing my art for your office!

New Work! "Nobody Said It Would be Easy..."

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NobodySaid_web.jpegYes, if you are thinking these title words sound familiar, perhaps Coldplay familiar, you're right. These are lyrics from The Scientist (such a great song) for which I have Kirsten Courtland to thank years back who shared her amazing  Coldplay concert experience with me years back during a workshop we were in together and that got me started listening to their music, now I am hooked. "Nobody said it would be easy, Noone ever said it would be this hard", 23” x 30” Mixed Media, Collage & Acrylics on 300 pound watercolour paper (c) Deb Chaney 2016 Fragments of Life Series. Original Painting Available at the date of this post for sale or rent. Original can be viewed at Deb's home studio in Kitsilano, Vancouver by appointment  info@debchaney.com

Time to Shine Podcast: Feature Interview

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Screen Shot 2016-03-18 at 12.30.36 PM Big thank you to Oscar Santolalla for featuring me on his fantastic podcast ‘Time to Shine’ - a work of art in itself for inspiring speakers! Had so much fun sharing ideas and inspiration!

Link to listen

Time to Shine Podcast

Interview Summary

Deb Chaney is a Contemporary Abstract Artist, Author, and Speaker. Her life’s work is to inspire people. She does this in a variety of ways: she gives talks, writes books, and she facilitates workshops. She also passionately paints contemporary abstract paintings which add beauty and healing energy to people’s work and living spaces. What Deb deeply believes in, is that we are all artists, and that each of us is in the process of creating our own masterpiece – our life. With the work she does, she inspires and empowers people on that creative journey.

Illuminate the artist within

Deb attended a workshop held by Tony Robbins. Her main dream at that time was to have a big art opening for her own artwork. During the workshop she got inspired by Robbins’ life of contribution. She had a visualization of contributing to other artists, and she made the decision to share how she found inspiration and stayed inspired. That is how “Illuminate the Artist Within” started.

Masterpieces and speeches

Deb admires Taylor Swift, who has written every song on each of her albums. Through her songs Taylor articulates with words what she is feeling, especially with storytelling. Deb considers the song “Back to December” a masterpiece.

Deb also finds three similarities between paintings and speeches:

  1. A good speech has voice variation. A good painting has variation in colors and hues.
  2. In a speech, the speaker uses the stage, hand gestures, to bring energy. In paintings, artists also want to add gestures and energies.
  3. A good painting tells a story. The same happens with a speech.

Empowering people in their creative journey

Deb empowers and inspires people in their own creative process in three ways:

  1. She lives her own journey. She does art with passion, and that inspires people.
  2. Deb wrote “68 Secrets of an Illuminated Artist“, in which each card has an idea to support people’s own creative process. This is the product of 10 years’ Deb journaling on her artwork.
  3. Based on Robert Maurer’s book, “One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way,” if you have an idea, take a really small step. If instead you try to do too much, you overwhelm your brain, and your idea never gets to the creative center of your brain.

Related: Speaking to Promote Your Art

Favorite quotation

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill

Recommended book

MONEY Master the Game by Tony Robbins

Routine to Shine

Begin with the end in mind. A really good talk is like a train, you must know well where you are headed and how you’re going to finish.

Links

DebChaney.com

IlluminateTheArtistWithin.com

The Courage to Continue.

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CourageToContinue_IMAGEThank you Marina Milner-Bolotin for your inspiring talk at Toastmasters a few weeks back and this fantastic quote, my current inspirational favourite!  "Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill. Need support to get courageous for your next step with painting? Join my next workshop in Vancouver, BC April 6th 2016 details: www.IlluminateTheArtistWithin.com.

Sold & Sold. Seems chartreuse is the colour of the day!

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Just sold, these chartreuse colored Fragments of Life Series paintings are on their way to California. Prints available here: Saatchi Online Gallery Deb Chaney. #celebrating!

Be an interior designer! Help us choose art for a naturopathic office...

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Dear reader, thank you for stopping by! I'd love your opinion, please! A dear friend of mine has opened up a naturopathic doctor's office in California and is looking to decorate it with my art work! Gosh I'm so grateful, touched, and excited.  I'd love if you're willing to participate and give your feedback and be the interior designer for today! I have a LOT of artwork, so there are many choices from my extensive portfolios, however to simplify the process, I've steered her towards the Fragments of Life Series work for several reasons:
  • Most of this work is on paper so its easy to ship
  • Some of these paintings have the same green colours shown in two of the office rooms
  • Works on paper can be framed and matted with an aesthetic that will match the decor and feel of the office - she can add her own sense of style
  • These artworks were painted in series so they can be hung next to each other and look great.

For reference I'm calling the rooms; the green room, the sink room, and office room 1 & 2. Pictured above.

Please do leave your comments below with a link from my website to the piece you think would fit in the specified room. I'm excited to see your ideas

And, as a thank you for those that participate, if the good doctor chooses your recommendation, I'd like to offer you one of the following: 50% off an original piece of my artwork or 25% off the painting workshop I am offering in Vancouver, BC in April.