The Gift of Art Scams
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'Disappearing'. Little Gems Series. 9" x 12" Mixed Media on Loose Canvas. Original Available. info@debhchaney.com genuine inquiries, no scammers, please. :-)
I get a lot of frequent scam "inquiries" for the purchase of my art. I know for a fact that a number of my artist friends get them too, that's what I love about social media sharing, we talk, so scammers be aware!
The email art inquiries have a number of 'red flags' that always tell me that it's going to be bogus and end up going nowhere. A potential trap to extort money. To start its usually a man: Tayor, Hank or Jim, some name like that.
Secondly, they often have a great catchy story to get the unaware artist excited... could be something like "My wife and I were looking at your website and I am planning to get her a piece of your artwork as a surprise gift..." Or, I've had this one so many times it makes me laugh; "I'm a marine biologist away at sea looking at purchasing some of your artwork to ship to....."
Last week I had one guy send me consecutive emails about how he was looking through the art at home with his wife on the sofa and getting excited to buy her something, then a few emails later he was going to be away at sea working as a marine biologist... Still looking to purchase my artworks. OMG. You're Kidding right?!
I think these guys must take an online course somewhere entitled "How to extort money out of artists." The adjective appearing before artist could be naive/stupid/gullible, etc. They sign up and are then probably given scripts on how to approach us. They get told they will get rich doing this. Just a guess here.
The third red flag is that they are usually from some far away country like Tunisia or Lithuania or some exotic place you've never heard of.
The final kicker red flag is that they alway have their own shipping company. So they will send you the money and take care of the arrangements.This part is a big deal for them. They are so attached. I think the online course has a whole pack of scripts on this one with details about it that go on for pages, let me tell you.
But here's the thing that keeps me laughing the whole while I read these emails. The focus of the inquiry is ALWAYS on the shipping. Sometimes they even forget to mention what art pieces of yours that they want or like !!! They just keep focussing in on the shipping, shipping, shipping. It's the biggest tip off.
As a side note, last summer I even received a Bank of America USD cheque from one of these shipping-obsessed fanatics to my P.O. Box. It just felt wrong and it was wayyyy more money than the cost of the paintings he'd inquired about. I actually took the cheque to a local bank to ask if it was legit, but they said they had no way to know unless I cashed it. I decided to shred it and moved on.
Don't get me wrong. I love money and receiving it especially for doing what I love. And I truly, absolutely, love selling my artwork to appreciative collectors. But, I would choose to not make a sale over involving myself with something that is not legitimate.
But, you are asking me, what are the possible benefits of these pesky email inquiries? How can this be positive? Ah, my friend, so glad you asked. We resourceful creative types can always find and use everything to our advantage - if we so choose!
The gifts of these scammers for me was going back to my website and ensuring that every art piece is labeled - sold or available. (If any are missing those labels, pls do let me know!) Then the potential collector can check for themselves if they are really interested in a piece.
I also got crystal clear on my pricing scheme for ALL my works, which is logical and based on painting size. I made a .pdf document with that size and pricing information, updatable for each year if I choose to increase my prices. So anyone inquiring about my artworks gets emailed this document and we're all clear on what art is available - check website - and what price it is - look at size, look up correlated price. Now that feels good.
The other gift of these interactions was developing a clear written payment policy and shipping policy. (again a .pdf doc which is emailed to inquirors). I have shipped paintings to Germany, Boston and Los Angeles with great success using both USPS, Canada Post, Fed Ex and UPS. My favourite is Fed Ex because I ask the client to set up a shipping account, they give me the number and when I go to the Fed Ex outlet, the shipping is simply billed directly to the customer. I'm guessing UPS does the same. Easy and effective. Tried and true.
So, thank-you scammers, for helping me get clear on my policies, prices, and what I am willing and not willing to do and be as a professional working artist. I have learned I value true connection, integrity, kindness and prefer to work with those that do too.
The vulnerability of a painting in process... Base layers, texture, ideas, attachment, courage, fear, love, excitement... What will she become? An abstract landscape mixed media painting in process. Again, I am lured to the metaphor of raising a child. They need guidance, attention and love. But then again we can't get too attached in the case of smothering or not letting them have their own life.
Went for an evening walk and look what was lying on the sidewalk! 'How to be an Artist' I think it's by SARK. Support is everywhere !
I am so deeply honored to be asked to jury in the 
This is an under painting ... Aka it's going to change as I add layers. What's special here is how this piece is already telling me what it's about. I randomly ripped pages out from found alleyway discarded books and what magically appears is: "Transitional Zones and States" and then "Transition Zones are regions in which the flow is re-adjusting itself to a new set of boundary conditions in space." This is just totally describing my life right now. Thank-you art, my forever companion on this journey ! #debchaney #contemporaryabstractart #artinprocess #mixedmedia 
If you have a group up to 8 adults or teens you are welcome to join me in my home studio in Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC for a painting party. I would be delighted to host a 2-3 hr painting intro mini workshop. I provide all the supplies and materials and you just need to bring a painting apron. Each of you would work on 9" x 12" canvas pad pieces (provided) which is loose canvas that can be framed beautifully or cut up and turned into gift cards, note pad covers, or journal covers. (I’ll show you samples !) For this mini workshop class, I will cover basic colour mixing and layering. We’ll be using acrylic paints with gel medium. We’ll free flow paint in abstract or shapes, everyone is free to paint what they wish. I’ll start with a short intro to get us inspired and focused and a painting demonstration to start up the group. My fee for this is $250 plus tax. inquire@debchaney.com (604) 736-5111.
June newsletter is out and inspired by Caroline Myss's book: Invisible Acts of Power: Personal Choices That Create Miracles. Enjoy online here: 
Three brand new paintings fresh from the studio June 2016 entitled "Content to be right where I am". In this triptych, each original mixed media abstract painting is 23" x 30" on coldpress 300 pound water colour paper and can be mounted on wood panel or framed under glass. All three pieces are available for rent or purchase info@debchaney.com call/text (604) 736-5111. Best to come to the studio and see the paintings 'in person' if you are in Vancouver, BC, as these are very non-professional pictures taken on my cell phone - you can see the various lighting not working to show off these beauties. I'll have them professionally photographed in due course, but was so excited to share with you as they are new and exciting! Probably the centre picture is the closest to the actual look - they are very light and have an etheral feel to them! See more pieces in this series at 
I love this quote by John Mayer "They love to tell you, stay inside the lines. But something's better on the other side." It's from his song 'No Such Thing' and I feel like it really applies to being creative. It gets us into new possibilities and options that did not previously exist. It gets us out of our own boxes, beyond the lines that were drawn for us at the start. This is something I love about the painting process, is that it's a safe and easy way to practice being creative and expanding myself. Then, as I grow this creative courage in the studio, I can go into the 'real world' and be more brave, more curious, more creative with greater confidence. I intend to offer support to my students in growing this creative and risk-taking muscle in the workshops I offer. 
I often have a surge of creativity just before and especially after teaching a workshop. It's one of the reasons I teach - to keep me inspired and energized about my own work. There are two spots open for this next weekend's upcoming Layers and Process: Abstract Painting Workshop Sat/Sun June 18/19th in Kitsilano, Vancouver. info@debchaney.com
Two little visitors watching me painting in the studio today. So sweet! Left - Becka. Right - Dylan. Actually, truth is, these noisy sweethearts were banished from Ruthie's room for waking her up too early in the morning! So here we are painting the edges of a painting together. You can join me painting at my next abstract painting workshop at 
Kirsti Abernethy is offering Yoga classes in Barcelona and (so cool!) and enthusiastically printed her flyers (with permission, thank you for asking!) using a Deb Chaney 
As I was making this quote/art image my 12-year-old daughter read the quote over my shoulder and then asked me; "Well then, what's the secret to courage?" I said; "The secret to courage is doing the thing(s) that scare you, despite the fear/voices in your head telling you that you can't." And she said; "Well, what if that's really hard?" And I said; "Well, that is why we practice again and again and again. And that practice makes being courageous easier."
Calling friends and art lovers! My friend and fellow artist extraordinaire Donna Giraud will be exhibiting at Art! Vancouver this month and she has invited us all to the opening night Gala for free. Yup, Check it out. You just go to www.artvancouver.net and enter the code GD3. See you there! Congrats Donna!
I am so touched and honored to be featured in