Look Who's In The New Issue Of What Women Create!

I’m proud to announce that I’m featured in the 2024 Fall Issue of WHAT Women Create magazine. The 14-page article is truly an honour and I hope you will take the time to check out this wonderful magazine.

About the article

In the article–which I wrote in the first-person–I share my journey as an artist and how I’ve arrived at this point: which is my upcoming solo exhibit of 7 large-scale paintings. The art exhibit, featuring my Drishti Paintings, runs from this November until January 2025.

The article is very personal to me as I open up about loss, grief, and depression, and how art was my saving grace. It brought me back from the edge and was essential to my healing and mental well-being.

Follow me from Vancouver, British Colulmbia to Hermosa Beach, California–where I got my first art commission–and back to Canada, where I eventually settled on Gabriola Island. My art continued to flourish, from licensing agreements with Hilton Hotels to deals with Hulu and Netflix.

I discuss my creative process, from meditation to nature walks to painting test pieces before setting to work on a large canvas. The Drishti Paintings are a decade in the making and this article really helps you understand the what and why of this series in particular and my art in general.

About WHAT Women Create magazine

WHAT Women Create is a beautiful and inspirational quarterly magazine focused on women artists and artisans. Each issue is an anthology of the processes and the passions of what our artisans and makers create.

The articles are written in first-person so you can envision being inspired in the same way as the artists and artisans. Each story celebrates courage and tenacity, and teaches us all that we, too, can create that which comes from our soul, that which is seen through our eyes, and that which is made by our own hands.

The magazine is available in print and online.

Order print and digital copies here: https://magdogs.com/product/what-women-create-fall-2024/

The Drishti Experience – Show Information

The Drishti Experience – Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being

Deb Chaney, Solo Exhibit, Amelia Douglas Gallery

November 7, 2025 – January 9, 2025

Seven large scale mixed media abstract paintings by Deb Chaney. Her latest work is inspired by her desire to experience and visually express the frequency of her well-being. This series sheds light on the link between healing mental illness and developing spiritual consciousness. 

Opening Reception: Thursday, November 7, 4:30 PM–6:30 PM

Featuring live music & hors d'oeuvres

Location
Amelia Douglas Gallery
Fourth Floor North, Douglas College
700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3M 5Z5

Gallery Hours
Monday–Friday: 10:00 AM–7:30 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Gallery Website

Vancouver Sun Saturday Edition Newspaper Art Installation Write Up & Feature

Thank you so much for my friend and art collector Leigh Hodges who kindly mailed me this newspaper copy of the Vancouver Sun article by Rebecca Keillor featuring my West Coast Abstracts public art installation in North Vancouver May7,2022. It was a pleasure to read and understand further one of the key reasons Rocky Seith, CEO of Adera Developments chose my proposal: A positive attitude! Thank you for acknowledging this, I really appreciate being seen and feel acknowledged and respect. This means a lot to me, thank you.

Take it Away XIII Painting (c) Deb Chaney Original Painting, collage on Paper Size: 15 W x 11 H x 0.1 D in

The four original paintings for this installation were inspired by the ephemeral beauty of walking along the river through Lynn Valley in North Vancouver ‘Take it Away I, II, III & IV’ and were gifted to developers to be featured in their head office. That said, for the photo shoot and process of putting together the final documentation of the project I painted several more paintings to show the layers and process behind the mixed media works. Several of these paintings are available for your collection and can be purchased via Saatchi Online Gallery. You can click the Saatchi gallery link here or contact the artist directly info@debchaney.com to acquire one of these beautiful original mixed media paintings for your collection.

This painting image may be appearing on music CD cover soon.... (stay tuned)

!LOVE! sweet moments like this... Just got approached by a band who would like to license this image 'Belinda's Painting' on their CD cover. Honoured and excited about this possibility!

This original painting ‘Belind'a’s Painting’ is part of my Little Gems Series and was created while I was offering a private painting lessons to Belinda McNeice in mixed media abstract painting several years ago. In this case we were integrating collage materials (old book sheets) with acrylics and pastels. So much fun!

The original sold a few years ago now to Kristi Calderon . THANK YOU & big love always to my dear collectors.

Prints and Giclees are available if you would like this image in your home or office:https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Belinda-s-Painting/499285/7418609/view

Interview & Feature with Canadian Abstract Artists

Thank you kindly to Canadian Abstract Artists for the awesome interview (great questions!) and feature. I am deeply appreciative of being able to share my learning. on this journey as a professional artist with yourselves and your audience. Thank you.!

How would you describe your artistic style?

Spiritually Inspired Contemporary Modern Textured Layered Abstract Mixed Media Paintings

What’s the main inspiration for your art?

My inner spiritual journey.

What is the biggest goal you try to achieve with your art?

To feel good.

What’s your favourite thing about being an abstract artist?

With the creation of every painting it has its own challenges – figuring out the balance, the integration of the layers, getting to its state of completion. This process inspires me, teaches me, and has kept my attention for the past 20+ years!

Why abstract art and not other mediums? Have you always created abstract art or did you start out creating other styles?

I’ve always been an abstract mixed media artist since I started painting. It continues to excite me, challenge me, and the process enthrals me … I just don’t want to do anything else at the moment!

If you could describe your art in three words, what would they be?

layered – textured – spiritual

What’s one thing people might not know about you and/or your art journey so far?

I still often go through an experience of a wavering in confidence in myself where I struggle, doubt and fear arise during the process of a painting when its mid-way through. To move through and complete, I use many of my personal growth tools such as my fav anchoring song, pre-recorded self-kindness and inner-child affirmations, and tips from ‘the war of art’ (steven pressfield) – mainly just showing up even if I am scared or “don’t feel like it”.

Did you always know you’d be an artist or how has your art journey progressed?

No, I didn’t always know I’d be an artist… Growing up, because of what I was told, I believed that it was impossible to be a professional artist. I put all my creative thoughts and endeavours aside and got a B.Sc. in Earth and Ocean Sciences… Near the end of my degree I read a SARK book ‘Wild Succulent Women’ and knew that if she could do it – be an artist – so could I. I wrote to her and received a hand-written letter in response. I feel it was an omen of support. My journey had begun. That was about 25 years ago…

In your opinion, what’s the most important personal characteristic needed to embark on a career as an artist?

Belief in yourself and the possibility that you can succeed at what you dream to do.

What advice would you give up and coming abstract artists?

To start, you must believe in yourself and the possibility of your own success – in whatever terms you define it. (write it down, clearly). Then, listen ONLY to the kind, positive, and affirmative voices within your head and to those around you ONLY who support you and your dreams.

Do you have any favourite podcasts or books that you love and that have contributed to your journey as an artist?

I love Tim Ferries, Oprah, Brenee Brown, Abraham Hicks, Eckart Tolle, Joe Dispenza, Tony Robbins, Danielle Laporte, Martha Beck, Christine Northrup.

What’s your most fulfilling and enjoyable experience as an artist so far?

This moment now, writing the answers to this wonderful interview… Knowing there are paintings in process in the studio that I get to work on. Looking out my kitchen window and seeing the forest. Hearing the rain fall on the roof and tree leaves. Feeling inspired, supported and connected. I am deeply grateful to be an artist for my work.

Where do you see yourself and your art in 5 years?

I see myself in my newly build high-ceiling studio with great lighting, water, and heat, creating large scale (48″ x 72″ x 1.5″) mixed media abstract Drishti Paintings (TM) which embody the frequency and vibration of well-being. I see these painting contributing wellness world wide, in particular mental well-being, and doing so in both exhibited spaces such as museums, galleries and biennials. I see these paintings selling to appreciative spiritually-minded and conscious art collectors all over the world.

What do you love most about abstract art?

That you feel good looking at it, that you can always find something new, that in focussing upon it you lose yourself and forget anything that may be troubling you and how abstract art brings you into a journey that you can narrate and make-up as you wish.

Do you have any favourite quotes?

“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” – Andy Warhol

Canadian Artist, Deb Chaney in front of completed ‘West Coast Abstracts’ public art installation at  Crest Adera Developments 108 East 8th St E, North Vancouver, British Columbia.

Thanks for taking the time to get to know BC abstract artist Deb Chaney a little more. To see more of her work, visit her website here.