Gabriola Arts Council’s Featured Art for June Included My ‘Fragments of Life’ Painting

Fragments of Life #19 by Deb Chaney (23” x 30”)

A couple of months ago I received a pleasant surprise in my inbox. It was an email from the Gabriola Arts Council letting me know that another artist had selected my artwork for June’s Featured Art section on their website. They chose one of my paintings that’s posted on the GAC’s website — a mixed media painting called Fragments of Life #19.

Monthly Featured Artwork Curated by Artists

Each month the Gabriola Arts Council asks one of their member artists to help them curate artwork from the 26 categories in their online art catalogue. The six selected works — they could be paintings, pottery, clothing, anything — are then displayed prominently on the front page of the GAC website under the Featured Art banner.

For the month of June 2022, my painting was selected along with 5 other beautiful pieces that represent the diverse range of styles, mediums, and art forms found on Gabriola Island. To give you an idea of this diversity, the other works included a hand-knit sweater by Susan Hudson, a stunning stained glass panel by Jane Ferland, a stoneware vase by Graham Sheehan, and a pine needles basket by Marylyn Beaubien. The only other painting was the gorgeous Tea Stained Humpback 2 by Jade Krupa.

Some of the other works can be purchased directly through the GAC website, while some require you to contact the artist directly about pricing.

Source: The Arts on Gabriola (GAC)

A Special Appreciation to the Artist

The artist who chose my painting for June’s Featured Art is Zulis Yalte. She’s a multimedia and cross-disciplinary artist who works in stone, wood, clay, mixed media sculpture, painting, photography, and more. 

When Zulis presented her selections to the GAC, she had this to say about my artwork:

“Deb illustrates the paradox of the light/dark, strength/fragility, and all in between in life with her intuitive use of mark-making, form, and colour.”

— Zulis Yalte

I was touched by how well Zulis captured the essence of my artwork. And I want to thank her for putting such care and thought into choosing to include my painting. It’s always appreciated when somebody lets an artist know which piece they like – and why they like it. But I feel that Zulis’ write-up even goes beyond that as she really digs what I’m doing from a creative standpoint.

You can learn more about Zulis and see more of her artwork on the GAC website or on her website.

A Truly Incredible Art Organization

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Gabriola Arts Council. What they are and do is far beyond any art organization I’ve encountered in my 20 years of being a professional artist. They are highly organized and professional and offer such an amazing level of support. With so many unique tools and programs in place, they are a truly special operation.

A fantastic feature on the GAC’s website is the creative directory, which allows people to “meet the artists of this unique and beautiful island.” With 90+ artists to choose from, I highly recommend clicking around and taking a digital stroll through the directory.

About My Painting ‘Fragments of Life #19’

This piece is part of my Fragments of Life series – which I discussed in a bit more detail in this post a couple of weeks ago – so it represents another lesson from my spiritual journey.

Fragments of Life #19 measures 23” x 30” x 1.5”. The artwork is an acrylic mixed media painting on 300 lb Arches Coldpress Watercolour Paper. It is mounted on a custom-made wood panel, wired, varnished, and ready to hang.

Original Artwork and Prints for Sale

The original artwork can be purchased through the Gabriola Arts Council’s website.

You can also buy prints of Fragments of Life #19 online at Saatchi Art. 

Saatchi Art has a range of options to fit everyone’s individual preferences. You can choose to have your prints on paper or canvas, and most are available in 4 sizes to fit any room. There is also an option to have it framed in white, black, or natural wood.

The “View In A Room” image gives you an idea of its size and lets you see what it looks like on a wall.

My Painting ‘Keep it Real’ is Featured at Free Spirit Art Gallery on Gabriola Island

Keep it Real by Deb Chaney

I am thrilled to announce that my artwork is now featured in the Free Spirit Art Gallery here on beautiful Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada. It’s truly an honour and pleasure to be part of this gallery and artist community. I’d like to take this opportunity to share a bit more about Free Spirit Gallery, the woman behind it, and my first piece of artwork featured there.

The Importance of Art Galleries and the Free Spirit Gallery on Gabriola Island

A gallery is more than just a shop with art on its walls. Beyond displaying artwork, it is a place for people to interact – to inquire, collaborate, and get inspired. And everyone I’ve talked with is excited to have a genuine and professional brick & mortar gallery on the island. 

The Free Spirit Studio Gallery & Shop was established last November by a phenomenal woman named Catherine Hallam. She has 20+ years of experience teaching art & design and has been on the island for nearly 10 years. By showcasing the work of emerging and established local artists and artisans, Catherine aims to provide a mutually beneficial platform to bring artists and collectors together.

The Free Spirit Shop is a retail space for local artisans to display and sell their handmade works. The Free Spirit Studio section – launched a couple of months ago – is a space where artists can conduct small workshops and classes for kids and adults. She’s got 2 printmaking workshops scheduled for July, but visit the studio’s webpage for up-to-date information.

By rotating solo exhibits, Catherine features one or two artists each month on the back wall – which I think is a wonderful idea. Having your work featured is an empowering experience for an artist. You can see the exhibition schedule for the whole year on the website.

There are so many amazing Gabriola artists to be represented. The gallery is a special, beautiful place, and it’s a privilege and pleasure to be a part of it specifically, and the community as a whole.

About My Painting ‘Keep it Real’ on Display at Free Spirit Art Gallery

The painting I have on display is called Keep it Real, and it’s part of my Fragments of Life series.

The Fragments of Life series is about how we often morph and fragment ourselves to survive the challenges and trauma we experience growing up. We become people we are not – and do what we have to – in order to meet our needs. And the series is a healing journey about reclaiming those lost parts of ourselves, our fragments.

Each painting in the series represents a lesson from my spiritual journey. The painting process always helps me stay in the present moment – keeping with what’s real – and embracing, accepting, and loving it. We do this with the knowledge that we have the power and capacity to transform into the next version of ourselves.

The painting is an acrylic mixed media collage on 300-pound cold press watercolour paper mounted on wood panel, and it measures 58.4 x 76.2 x 2.5 cm (23 x 30 x 1.5 inches).

Original Artwork and Prints for Sale

The original painting of Keep it Real is currently available for purchase from Free Spirit Gallery Please email info@freespiritstudio.ca or phone the gallery at (250) 247-0197 to secure the original for your collection. 

You can also purchase giclee and fine art prints from Saatchi Art.

When it comes to prints, Saatchi Art offers multiple options to suit your personal tastes or needs. Prints can be on paper or canvas and are usually available in 4 sizes – to better fit your room. You can also choose to have your unique art piece framed in white, black, or natural wood.

The “View In A Room” image gives you an idea of its size and lets you see what it looks like on a wall.

Breathing Space: French Beach -- west coast of Vancouver Island British Columbia

Every summer Ruthie and I go camping for a week and have a wonderful time just being in nature and doing a few things such as:

rock collecting

sending out a message in a bottle

rock art

campfires

hikes

beach days

sand castles

writing in the sand

wave jumping

ocean swimming

Here are some photos of our Breathing Space week in nature at French Beach, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia last July 2012. 

 Ruthie took this photo looking up a Douglas Fir tree. Always love adding her photos into this 'Breathing Space' blog. :)

 The trail from out campside down to the beach.

 Wonderful contrast of a leaf floating in a dark stream.

 We could not just sit and be with these rocks. We had to stack them and make art with them!!!

 God always makes the best art and inspires me every time. 

 Huge sea  anenomies (sp?) and barnacles the size of a child's hand - huge! So much richness of sea life on the west coast to see in the tide pools. Hours of looking into these worlds!

 We decied to make a line of rocks from the top of the beach to the shore this day.

 Endless fun by the fire. Especially on the last night when we burned all the remaining fire wood! The park ranger stopped by to make sure "everything was OK". !!! Everything was fine. We just had a super big fire!!!!

My current fav picture of us! We took five pictures to get this. All of the first five, I held the camera and half of my face is cut out of all of them, then Ruthie told me she could do it better and took this one first try!!!

 Beach art, making inukshucks on logs. Little stone status. Can be challenging balancing them!

 Ruthie joined forces with another familiy and made the sand casttle of a a life time. Here she is with the little boy building a barrier to stop the ocean from coming in and destroying their wonderful creation!

 Sand Casttle extravaganza closer up!

 OK, we got a bit obsessed with the rock art! What can I say. I had to make some art that week!!!

 Just in love with how the west coast rainforest meets the beach. So much beauty in the details.

 I love how when yoiu are in nature and camping you don't have to do  anything.  Just be there and the earth, air, water, nature around  you supports you, embraces you, calms you, heals you, gives you exactly what you need just by being there.

 These last two pictures are  from a day trip we took a little further north up the west coast from French beach. It's called Mystic beach and for about a 40 minute hike we got there and enjoyed amazing weather, sand, a rope swing, picnic by the sea and...

this beautiful fresh water waterfall falling straight from above onto the beach and then flowing into the ocean. Yes we stood under it and had a shower! wonderful!

Breathing Space: Goldstream Park on Vancouver Island

These are some snap shots from a family hike we took in August at GoldStream Park located  just outside of Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC. 

Loving the lushness of this forest!

Ruthie leading the way.

Looking up at the trees - thanks for the reminder James! The day seems to always get better when you look up and enjoy the beauty of the trees!

Down the stairs to a surprise below!

A beautiful pool and waterfall awaited us. I went in the pool in the back and swam to the waterfall. I could not belive how wonderfully warm the water was!

Ruthie wading around the dam.

Enjoying the waterfall.

Ruthie on the otherside of the little lake, enjoying nature.

The water was so clear!

Back up the stairs. Good exersice!

Nothing like walking down a forest path.

Until next time Goldenstream. Bless, bless!