Original Painting ‘Clearing Fear’ Featured in the Upcoming Netflix Series The Imperfects

Clearing Fear by Deb Chaney

As I mentioned in a post back in March, Hulu rented 5 of my original paintings for their new horror movie Fresh, starring Daisy Edgar Jones and Sebastian Stan. My mixed media painting Subtle Shift was the first of my pieces to be featured on the show, and I’ll share the others as they appear. 

However, this is not an update on Fresh – but it’s the result of my artwork being in the show. Hulu renting my artwork for its TV series led directly to my abstract paintings being featured on Netflix’s new show, The Imperfects.

The sci-fi drama stars Canadian actress Italia Ricci as Dr. Sydney Burke and Vancouver native Rhianna Jagpal as Abbi Singh. It was mainly filmed in Vancouver, which you may know is often referred to as “Hollywood North” due to all the movies and shows filmed there.

The synopsis reads:

After an experimental gene therapy turns them into monsters, three twenty-somethings band together to hunt down the scientist responsible and force him to make them human again.

Here’s the official Netflix teaser. But be warned, it’s not for the faint of heart – the trailer has profanity and a fair amount of blood and violence. Netflix has given it a TV-MA rating for language, violence, and gore, so it’s not really my taste.

How My Artwork Went From Hulu to Netflix

Source: Netflix

One of the art directors working on Fresh was a wonderful woman named Sarah. She enjoyed working with me and complimented me on my professionalism and how I replied to them quickly and got them what they needed without delay. 

The film and TV industry has a really quick turnaround, with people often needing things “yesterday”. Fortunately, I was aware of this beforehand as my daughter had done some extra work when she was younger, so I’d been on film sets and had a sense of how things worked a little bit. The experience helped me work with the industry and understand what its incredibly hard-working people are coping with.

After Fresh wrapped filming, Sarah moved onto another production. Soon afterward, she gave me a call to say that she’d enjoyed working with me and that she was excited about my art. In fact, she’d printed out most of my portfolio from Saatchi Online Gallery so everyone working on the art set of The Imperfects could choose their favourite paintings.

I was so flattered and excited and grateful for the callback.

Instead of renting my original work – as was done for the Hulu movie – Netflix licensed high-resolution digital images of my paintings. (I think they licensed somewhere between 20 to 30 paintings.) They then printed them onto canvas with a special giclée printer on set.

It’s a good thing they didn’t use my original artwork, because there’s a scene where one of the lead characters punches through one of my paintings. The scene went through multiple retakes, so they kept printing out my painting over and over again. I’m fairly certain the painting in question is New Laylines To Heal The Earth. The original is available for purchase – just promise you won’t put your fist through it. :)

About the Artwork in The Imperfects

Source: Netflix

Even though The Imperfects first season hasn’t been released by Netflix yet, one of my paintings already appears in the trailer! You can see it 40 seconds into the trailer hanging above the fireplace. (It’s mounted sideways – but it’s still wonderful to see it there!) :)

The painting is called Clearing Fear and was painted in 2019. It is acrylic mixed media on canvas and measures 91.4 x 122 cm (36”x48”) and is currently available to rent or purchase via the Surrey Art Gallery Sales and Rentals program.

Original Artwork and Prints for Sale

The original painting of Clearing Fear is available to purchase or rent from the Surrey Art Gallery Sales and Rentals program.

Prints of Clearing Fear are also available on Saatchi Art. You can choose the size, material, and framing to suit your personal taste. Prints come in 4 sizes, on paper or canvas, and you add a frame of white, black, or natural wood.

The “View In A Room” image places the artwork on a wall to give you a sense of its size and how it looks in a room.

New Laylines To Heal The Earth – the original or print – is also available for purchase on Saatchi Art.

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!