Yoga Girl Keepsake Box

Just in time for Christmas! Adorned with The Original Girl Yoga Girl painting, this is a beautiful keepsake box and potential gift idea for yourself, your yoga teacher, or yoga enthusiast friend. The box is 5" x 5" and 2.3" in height. Just the right amount of space to hold your favourite necklace, yogic toe separators (!), earrings, or other keepsakes. Regular $33 on sale now 30% (today only) off with the coupon code: ZCUSTOMGIFTS. Click here to purchase: http://www.zazzle.com/the_original_yoga_girl_5_125_x_4_25_gift_box-246913123012179460

Office Painting Party!

I had a wonderful time last week at the warehouse offices of Flow Home Staging in Vancouver, BC hosting a 2 hr  in office painting party. I brought the supplies, inspiration, and instruction. These fantastic participants showed up, got messy, had fun and created some great little paintings. Thank you so much for having me!

If you work with a company in the Lower Mainland of BC that has a wellness program and/or is open to their employees taking a 2 hr time slot to play, connect with their creativity, have fun, and relax: Contact me to set up your own painting party. 2016 Prices are $250 for up to 12 people, all supplies included at my studio with an additional $50 travel charge if I come to you. I am now taking bookings for 2017  info@debchaney.com or text (604) 736-5111 to set up your own painting party.

Homemade Advent Calender

To make this homemade advent calendar we used little 2" x 3" muslin bags , acrylic paints, stamps, stencils, and glitter! I put a little surprise gift for my daughter in each bag to count down the days before Christmas. Some gifts I put inside were; little earings, gum, bubble bath, candy cane, hair elastics, money, a miniature snow globe and a mascara (she's 13 and loves makeup!). Thank you for our friend Sharon for coming over to help create these!

Breathing Space - a hike before the snow

Had the most beautiful hike last week at Minnekhada Regional Park - before we got all this snowfall!

Studio and workshop venue for rent

Looking for a place to host a get-together? run a workshop? or just gather a group of friends to get messy and creative !? This space might just be perfect for you:

This is a large open professional working artist studio located in quite green Central Coquitlam, BC with excellent lighting and the option to open the garage door for fresh air and natural lighting. There are 4 large working artist tables available, a large demo table with shelving racks below it, and plenty of wall space available to hang paintings. There is a laundry room adjacent to the studio for a large sink to access water. The studio is located in a quiet residential neighborhood with much green space and trees surrounding us. There is an excellent Greek Restaurant and Canadian/Chinese food restaurant minutes away by foot. Rates $200/day $25/hr.

Book Online: https://thisopenspace.com/spaces/1143

The correlation between art and housework

In the dictionary, art comes before housework, always.

Glad we have this one resolved now.

new workshops now posted for 2017 www.illuminateTheArtistWithin.com

New workshop Upcoming January 2017: Create a Mixed Media Book Combining Words, Images & Illustrations

In the case you are the sort that likes to plan ahead... Or you are looking for a super thoughtful Christmas gift for a creative loved one. Here's the new workshop scoop: January 2017 - Create a Mixed Media Book Combining Words, Images & Illustrations.  In this one day workshop, learn how to make really cool textured, mixed media backgrounds to which you will add your own words, images, and illustrations. Receive guidance and inspiration as you create either your own book of quotes, an inspiration journal, or photo collage memoir. Come prepared to get a little messy, a lot creative, and to leave with something special, unique and hand made by you! Saturday,  Jan  28th, 2017.  9 am – 4pm. Location: Central Coquitlam, BC. 12 spots. $187.  Early Bird register by Friday January 6th $167.  Acrylic Paints, Mediums and painting tools included. To Register text (604) 736-5111 / info@debchaney.com

Bring an apron or smock and your favourite drawing tools, pictures and images, and collage papers.

Online tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/create-a-mixed-media-book-combining-words-images-illustrations-tickets-29801863175

Just shipped to New York

Here's a cool dream: I'd like to be writing a blog post with this title every week. "Just shipped to New York" but replacing New York with; Tokyo, Paris, London, San Francisco, Stockholm, Reykavik... That'd be cool. Thank you for the purchase dear new york art collector, I cannot do what I do without people like you. My gratitude is big. Thank you. Love the piece? You can  get prints here: https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Reaching-Out/499285/3287496/view

'Reaching out' Little Gems Series 9" x 12" Mixed Media on Paper (c) 2016 Deb Chaney www.debchaney.com

THANK YOU !

3 New Little Gem Paintings

Three new paintings in my Little Gems Series. Each are 9” x 12” Mixed Media on Paper (c) Deb Chaney 2016 $150 ea/Originals Available at the date of this post for purchase@debchaney.com and prints at: https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Another-New-Uncomfortable-Zone/499285/3287491/view

‘Another new Uncomfortable Zone’ is really a visual expression or commentary when you are in a position in your life when you keep moving forward into uncomfortable places.. but you know you need to go there, so you keep moving forward. The process of painting helps me process my life and helps me stay in a positive forward direction. This painting is part of my Little Gems series which is based in play, experimentation, and practice.

‘The Cosmos is Watching You’. After I painted this piece and let it dry, it was obvious there was an eye staring straight back at me. Hence the title. I think everything we are doing and who we are being, is being observed by the greater consciousness - God, The Universe, The Cosmos. There is no hiding. This painting acknowledged this truth for me. This painting is part of my Little Gems series which is based in play, experimentation, and practice.

‘Reaching Out’ ' is a visual expression and communication of about how lately I've been extending myself outward in my business - taking risks, meeting new people, trying new things.

New Work! Sometimes Nothing Makes Sense...

'Sometimes Nothing Makes Sense' 9" x 12" Mixed Media on Paper (c) Deb Chaney 2016. Original available date of this post. Order prints: https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Sometimes-Nothing-Makes-Sense/499285/3280784/view

Zazzle Grand Opening Art Merch Store

Hello art-lovers, fellow yogis & artists, friends, and supporters! I am so excited to share with you that my Zazzle Store is now up and running and ready to take orders for the Christmas season. I am profiling my Yoga Girl Series of painting images with a variety of items carrying their images such as cell phone covers, mugs, key chain ornaments, pendants, pocket journals (awesome must-have for a creative yogis!) and more cool items for you to check out.  If there is a product you'd like to see... please email info@illuminateTheArtistWithin.com so we can get it available for you! I want to thank you for checking out my new store and considering the possibility and starting your Christmas shopping here with me on Zazzle! Thank you!

Check out the store: http://www.zazzle.com/yogagirlpaintings

Art in Natural Medicine Doctor's Office

So grateful and excited to share that one of my Fragments of Life Series original art pieces hanging in Be Well Natural Medicine Naturopathic Doctor's Office near Mill Valley, California USA is now also on their beautiful new website. Congratulations 'Be Well' with your new office, new website and thank you for choosing my art to decorate your beautiful office!

New Work: Cannot Contain My Excitement !

New artwork “Cannot “Contain My Excitement” Original and prints available.  9” x 12” Mixed Media (Painting: Ink, Pencil, New Media, collage and gold leaf) on Paper (c) Deb Chaney 2016 purchase@debchaney.com prints here: https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Cannot-Contain-My-Excitement/499285/3270943/view

This little painting is part of my Little Gems Series of paintings, many of which were made in front of a workshop group to illustrate a concept or technique. Inspired by practice, they a joy to create and share with you here!

To be honest I painted this after reading Bridgette Mayer's 'The Art Cure' and then spoke to her in person about her book and programs to support artists. I felt so energized and inspired and could not contain my excitement - hence the painting title. (!) :-)

Keywords: black, sepia, spacious, spiritual, vibrant, yellow, brown, energetic, gold

Getting studio ready for next workshop

The past few days I've been cleaning, tidying & organizing the studio for the upcoming advanced workshop - painting in thick layers. There are a few spots open, please inquire@debchaney.com or text me at 604-736-5111. Workshop is 3 days: November 25-27, 9-4 each day, located in Central Coquitlam, BC, cost is $ 475 and covers the following:

This is a 3-day hands-on advanced abstract painting workshop with acrylics & mixed media with a focus on experimentation with various liquid and gel acrylic mediums as well as the opportunity to work on your own large abstract painting from start to finish.

– Review the basics of abstract painting: The 3 C’s and The 3 WOW’s. – Dive into the creative process  of building thick and multi-layered works by watching demonstrations and then working a single large piece and on multiple paintings of your own. – Thinking in three dimensions as we build up our surfaces and textures using gel medium, modeling paste, heavy gesso, sand gel, gold mica flakes, and more. – Create intriguing effects by removing paint using hand/electric sanding, scraping, & etching techniques. – Integrating mixed media into your dry acrylic painting such as; collage elements, pencils, Conte, pastels, spray paint, found objects, gold leaf, mirror leaf, and more. – Building tinted translucent glassy-look multi-layer of liquid acrylics with water-based polymer mediums. – Creating clear glossy and glass-like finishes using acrylic water based polymer mediums. – Finishing  & overall integration techniques. – Receive support in final critique and completion of your  painting.

This workshop will allow for lots of painting time, with a focus on the creative process and participants receiving the support the start, process, and complete your own large abstract painting.

Includes workbook & handouts.

New artwork: See How Spirit Moves Her

New artwork "See How Spirit Moves Her" Original and prints available. Original is 9” x 12” Mixed Media on Paper (c) Deb Chaney 2016 purchase@debchaney.com prints here: https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-See-How-Spirit-Moves-Her/499285/3265121/view

This little painting is part of my Little Gems Series of paintings, many of which were made in front of a workshop group to illustrate a concept or technique. They come from fun, play and practice and are a joy to create and share with you here! See more in this series at www.debchaney.com ->  Portfolio -> Little Gems

Dear Arches, Thank you for your support!

Big Thank you to Arches paper for profiling myself and our current group show up at The Cultch Theatre in East Vancouver this November 2016. To celebrate its 20^th Anniversary, the Eastside Culture Crawl Society is mounting in Vancouver (Canada) a multi-venue salon-style exhibition titled “As The Crow Flies”.

This exhibition will take place from November 2 till 28, 2016 at the Firehall Arts Centre and The Cultch.

This exciting event features work from 70 artists who have participated in the Culture Crawl over the last 20 years.  Juried by Paul de Guzman, Eri Ishii, and Katsumi Kimoto. www.culturecrawl.ca

Deborah Chaney will exhibit her Mixed Media work on ARCHES^® Watercolour Cold Press 300 pound paper. Learn about Deborah Chaney: www.debchaney.com

Practice, Practice, Practice

  I think a common misconception about a person that is particularly good at something - aka painting, singing, drawing, playing piano, etc -  is that they have some magical talent, or some special product(s), or ability that is other-worldly - something that you couldn't possibly have. Perhaps they do. Perhaps they don't

I, for one, would like to imagine I have a magical talent, though I think more realistically what I have is a big strong passionate calling and definitive pure need to create. And  I sure do have a lot of cool products from the art supply store, though they don't necessarily guarantee me a good painting. And often when a painting comes out of the studio that is beyond WOW, I sure do give GOD full credit for coming in and working through me. Though I truly feel if we surrender and let Source work through us, its available to all of us.

The one under emphasized piece about people that are particularly good at their craft is that we practice, we practice, and we practice. Yup, simple, here on earth, showing up, getting messy, making mistakes, and just doing it again and again.

And here is what I want to share and admit with you tonight: I absolutely, relentlessly, love, love, love to practice painting. It's so fun and liberating because I know I'm just practicing so I can explore, make "mistakes", get dirty, throw it out, change it, re-change it, and mess it up. The practice is my time with me. It's my treasured time with God.

If I could wish one thing for you tonight, dear friend, artist, reader, fellow creative on your path, is that you find that thing you love and enjoy the process, enjoy practice - the greatest gift of all.

[Pictured Above, fresh 'Little Gems' 9" x 12" mixed media paintings from this evening's practice (c) Deb Chaney 2016 www.debchaney.com]

Upcoming Bowen Island Workshop November 16th, 2016

Learn the Fundamentals in Abstract Painting using Acrylics, Wednesday, November 16, 2016. 1 day. 9am-4 pm Location: Gallery at Gallery @ Artisan Square on Bowen Island Join Artist Deb Chaney for a full day of play and experimentation with acrylics while learning the fundamentals in abstract painting. You will learn the 3 C’s; a simple 3-step structure to create an abstract painting that works, along with some fun techniques to add intrigue, depth, and texture to your acrylic paintings. We’ll focus on having fun and supporting your creative expansion. Lots of demonstrations, plenty of painting time. $105 + GST. Does not include supplies. Supply list on registration website. Handouts provided. Register: (604) 947-2216 www.bowencommunityrecreation.com

'As The Crow Flies' Juried Group Show Opening Night Wednesday, Nov 2, 2016

I'm honored and excited to be exhibiting 'Fragments of Life #28' 22" x 30" x 1.5"Mixed Media on wood panel at The Gallery at The Cultch

You are invited to the opening of

As the Crow Flies: Eastside Culture Crawl Society 20th Anniversary Exhibition

Opening reception: November 2nd  - 6pm to 8pm

Exhibition open November 2 - 21, 2016

To celebrate its 20th Anniversary, the Eastside Culture Crawl Society is mounting a multi-venue salon-style exhibition titled As The Crow Flies. This exciting event features work from 70 artists who have participated in the Culture Crawl over the last 20 years.  Juried by Paul de Guzman, Eri Ishii, and Katsumi Kimoto.

The exhibitions features works by Andrea Armstrong, Suzy Baker, Olga Campbell, Deb Chaney, Ben Z Cooper, Melanie Ellery, Bernadine Fox, Louise Francis-Smith, Ken Gerberick, Shannon Harvey, Tannis Hopkins, Jason Husmillo, Kari Kristensen, Bernie Lee, Dzee Louise, Marta Musa, Lisa Ochowycz, Ross den Otter, Sherri Rogers, Lori Sokoluk, Katrina Stock, Michal Tkachenko, and Alex Waber

The Gallery at The Cultch is wheelchair accessible.

Come to the opening night for a lively night of art or visit the gallery from 12pm to 4pm Monday to Saturday. Ring the doorbell to gain access to the gallery.

We deeply appreciate your ongoing enthusiasm and support and we look forward to sharing this evening with you. We hope that you can join us!

For more information, visit:  The Cultch Gallery Online

The Cultch, 1895 Venables Street, Vancouver, BC V5L 2H6 Canada

New Painting : 'Glitzy 4'

Glitzy 4 11” x 15”  Mixed Media and Acrylics on Paper, Little Gems Series (c) Deb Chaney 2016. Original Available on  the date of this post. info@debchaney.com. Prints now available at http://www.saatchiart.com/debchaney

Glitzy 4 is part of a series of smaller paintings called 'Little Gems'. These original paintings ‘Little Gems’  are all connected by their inspiration: practice, play, and experimentation with acrylics and mixed media. They are the results of my art making practice, often done in front of a workshop group! For this piece, the letter 4 is my daughter Ruthie's favorite number which I beautifully created with gold glitter. There are many other textured layers of intriguing mixed media also creating a look of layers going deep into the earth. Enjoy.